KNOW 
THEn-  • 


Prepared  and  PxiblijKei 

FoREimfKPARTriLhT. 

^ iki.E  • 

loKfi^t  C<jmm\^^ioT\et — 


FOREST  TREES 

I of  MAINE 

and  horn)  to  kn(Hv  them 


Prepared  and  Published  by  the 

MAINE  FORESTRY  DEPARTMENT 


E.  E.  RING 
Forest  Commissioner 


WATERVILLE 

SENTINEL 

1908 


} 

i 

Page  13.  For  Picea  marina  B.S.&=  P.  read  Picea  mart  ana  t 

Page  17.  The  cut  of  the  balsam  fir  has  been  accidentally  inverted  an 
should  be  reversed  to  show  the  cone  in  its  natural  position. 

Page  18.  The  cut  given  as  the  white  cedar  is  for  the  species  mentione 
in  the  foot-note. 

Page  20.  For  Jttglans  cineres  L.,  read  Juglans  cinerea  L. 

Page  36.  For  Betula  papyifera  Marsh,  read  Betnla  papyrifera  Mars! 
Page  42.  For  Queroiis  coccinea  Moench.read  Quercns  coccinea  Moencli 
Page  48.  For  Sassafras  verifolium  {Salis),  Otto  Kuntze  read  Sassafrc 
variifoUum  (Salisb)  Otto  Knntzc.  , J 

Page  51.  For  Gleditsia  trascanthos  L.,  read  Gleditsia  triacanthos  . 
Page  55.  For  Acer  sacoharum  Marsh,  read  Acer  saccharutn  Marsh-j 
Page  56.  For  Acer  saccharttm  Marsh,  read  Acer  saccharinnm  Mars 


7/5 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


i 

5?  INTRODUCTION 

^ ■■■  I nil— — — — 

For  a long  time  there  has  been  a demand 
for  a book  giving  a simple,  yet  comprehen- 
sive description  of  the  trees  of  Maine,  hence 
this  pocket  manual  has  been  prepared  and 
it  is  hoped  will  to  some  degree  serve  the 
purpose  for  which  it  is  intended. 

Simple  as  the  work  may  appear  to  be, 
j considerable  time  and  thought  have  been 
j put  into  its  preparation.  The  descriptions 
I given  are  the  common  names  and  by  them 
I the  characteristics  of  the  tree  can  readily 
; be  told  and  the  various  species  easily  dis- 
; tinguished  one  from  another. 


Acknowledgments 

I The  descriptive  manuscript  has  been  pre- 
^ pared  by  Prof.  Gordon  E.  Tower,  instructor 
^ in  the  Forestry  Department  at  the  Univer- 
’ sity  of  Maine,  and  it  bears  the  stamp  which 
individualizes  his  work. 

I 

b For  the  majority  of  the  cuts  illustrating 
■5  the  foliage  and  seed  production  credit  is 
'due  Director  J.  L.  Hills,  of  the  Vermont 
IfExperiment  Station,  who  originally  used 
, the  cuts  in  an  illustrated  bulletin  of  ''The 
• Trees  of  Vermont.’^ 


3 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

The  cuts  illustrating  the  winter  twigs 
and  buds  were  kindly  loaned  by  Hon.  F.  W. 
Rane,  State  Forester  of  Massachusetts,  and 
used  by  him  in  his  hand-book  on  “Massa- 
chusetts Forest  Trees.” 

By  permission  of  Houghton,  Mifflin  & Co. 
six  cuts  are  used  from  Sargent’s  “Manual 
of  the  Trees  of  North  America.” 

It  is  the  intention  of  the  Forest  Commis- 
sioner that  this  book  shall  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  students  of  the  higher  grades 
of  the  public  schools.  It  is  earnestly  hoped  ■ 
that  teachers  will  endeavor  to  awaken  an^ 
interest  on  the  part  of  the  pupils  in  the; 
study  of  the  different  trees  which  make' 
the  great  wealth  of  our  state.  J 

If  there  can  be  created  in  the  people  an; 
innate  love  of  Nature,  the  fundamentals  of 
practical  forestry  will  solve  themselves  as' 
naturally  as  water  flows  down  hill.  Mean-j 
while,  we  have  a pleasant  task  in  bringing 
these  conditions  about.  The  more  one, 
knows  about  trees,  the  more  he  wants  to'j 
know;  and  the  natural  outcome  will  be; 
better  economic  and  aesthetic  conditions. 

Copies  of  this  book  will  be  mailed  free  tO| 
all  who  apply  for  the  same,  so  long  as  the; 
limited  edition  lasts.  i 

EDGAR  E.  RING.  I 

Forest  Commissioner.  \ 


4 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


PINES 

The  Important  Distinctions 


WHITE  PINE 

(Pinits  strobus  L.) 

RED  PINE 

(Pinus  resinosa 
Ait.) 

PITCH  PINE 

(Pinus  rigida 

Mill.) 

JACK  PINE 
GRAY  PINE 

(Pinus  hanksiana 
Lamb.) 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

In  clusters  of  five, 
3 to  5 inches  long, 
slender,  flexible,  of 
bluish  green  color. 

In  clusters  of  two, 
5 to  6 inches  long, 
flexible,  dark 
green. 

In  clusters  of  three 
3 to  5 inches  long, 
stout,  not  flexible, 
dark  yellow  green. 

In  clusters  of  two, 
three-fourths  to 
one  and  one-fourth 
inches  long,  stout, 
flat,  light  yellow 
green  at  first,  later 
becoming  dark 
green. 

Cones 

Cones 

Cones 

Cones 

Four  to  six  inches 
long,  and  borne  on 
a long  stalk,  with- 
out prickles. 

Two  to  two  and 
one  fourth  inches 
long,  borne  on 
short  stalks  with- 
out prickles. 

One  to  three  and 
o n e-h  a 1 f inches 
long,  borne  on 
short  stalk  having 
prickles  on  the 
cone  scales. 

One  and  one-half 
to  two  inches  long 
much  curved  in- 
ward without 
stalk.  Prickles 
minute. 

a,  Pitch;  c,  Red;  d.  White.  All  one-half  natural  size. 
Note. — All  of  our  pines  have  winged  seeds. 


5 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

WHITE  PINE  {Pinus  strohus  L.) 

When  growing  in  the  open,  the  young  tree  is  symet- 
> rical  and  conical  in  outline.  In  the  forest  it  has  a 
narrow  head,  and  the  trunk  is  commonly  free  of  branch- 
es for  a considerable  portion  of  its  length.  The  old 
forest  trees  have  a broad  and  somewhat  irregular 
head.  The  branches  are  horizontal,  and  in  regular 
whorls,  usually  of  five  each.  Very  old  trees  often 


With  scales  open  and  seeds  gone.  White  Pine  needles  grow  i 
in  clusters  of  five.  • 

become  very  irregular  and  picturesque.  The  trunk 
tapers  gradually,  and  the  tree  often  attains  a height 
of  one  hundred  feet.  Commonly  it  is  from  seventy  tc 
eighty  feet  tall,  and  having  a diameter  of  one  to  three 
feet. 

The  bark  of  young  trees  is  smooth  and  thin 
green  tinged  with  red.  On  old  trees,  it  is  from  one  tc 
two  inches  thick,  very  dark,  and  divided  into  broad 
flat  ridges  by  shallow  fissures. 

The  leave*  are  in  clusters  of  five,  and  are  fron 
three  to  five  inches  long.  They  are  bluish  green,  bein| 
whitish  on  one  side. 


6 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WHITK  PINK  — Concluded 
The  cones  are  four  to  six  inches  long,  cylindrical 
and  borne  on  a long  stalk.  They  open  early  in  Sep- 
tember to  discharge  the  small  winged  seed,  which 
matures  in  August  of  the  second  season. 

The  white  pine  occurs  in  all  localities  in  the  State. 
It  grows  in  moist  situations,  on  uplands,  and  on  sandy 
soil,  but  makes  the  best  development  on  fertile,  well- 
drained  soils.  On  sandy  soil  it  often  forms  pure,  or 
nearly  pure 'forests  or  groves. 

The  tree  grows  rapidly  both  in  height  and  diameter, 
making  an  average  height  growth  of  one  foot  each 
year. 


WHITE  PINE 

Embryo  and  Mature  cones.  One-half  natural  size. 

From  Sargent’s  “Manual  of  the  Trees  of  North  America,”  by  permission 
of  Houghton,  Mifflin  & Co. 

The  wood  is  light  in  color,  and  durable  except  in 
contact  with  the  soil.  It  is  soft,  not  heavy,  and  is 
easily  worked.  The  wood  is  used  for  building  pur- 
poses and  for  cabinet  making.  The  second  growth 
white  pine  is  now  used  extensively  in  this  State  for  the 
manufacture  of  box  boards. 

At  one  time  white  pine  was  very  abundant  in  the 
State,  and  it  was  for  this  reason  that  the  appellation 
Pine  Tree  State”  was  given  to  Maine.  It  was  also 
because  of  the  abundance  and  value  of  the  white  pine 
that  this  tree  was  chosen  as  the  emblem  of  the  State. 

7 


RED  PINE  (Norway  Pine)  (Phius  resinosa  Ait.) 

The  young  trees  have  the  branches  extending  to  the 
ground  and  form  a conical  outline.  These  drop  off 
later,  and  in  old  age  the  head  is  rounded,  flattened, 
stout  and  picturesque.  The  branches  are  generally 
horizontal.  It  attains  a height  of  sixty  to  eighty  feet, 
and  a diameter  of  two  to  three  feet.  The  trunk  is 
tall,  straight  and  tapers  slowly. 

The  bark  is  about  one  inch  thick,  divided  into 
broad,  flat  ridges  by  shallow  fissures,  and  further  bro- 
ken up  in  to  thin,  reddish  brown  scales,  loosely  attached. 

The  leaves  are  arranged  in  clusters  of  two,  five 
to  six  inches  long,  dark  green,  soft  and  flexible. 


RED  PINE— One-half  natural  size.  '\ 

From  Sargent’s  “Manual  of  the  Trees  of  North  America,’’  by  permission 

of  Houghton,  Mifflin  & Co.  j 


The  cones  are  much  like  an  egg  in  shape,  about 
two  inches  long,  and  borne  on  short  stalks.  They  jj 
mature  in  the  fall  of  the  second  season,  shedding  their  j 
seeds  early  in  autumn,  and  usually  remaining  on  the  ^ 
branches  until  the  next  summer.  ‘i 

The  red  pine,  though  common,  is  found  only  locally  ■ 
throughout  the  State,  growing  on  dry,  rocky  ridges,  or 
light,  sandy  soil,  usually  in  groves  scattered  through 
forests  of  other  species. 

The  wood  is  a little  heavier  than  white  pine,  ■ 

close  grained,  hard,  strong,  and  has  a pale  red  color.  It  ^ 

is  used  for  piles,  buildings  and  bridge  construction. 

Owing  to  the  reddish  appearance  of  the  bark,  and  f 
the  pale  red  color  of  the  heart  wood,  the  name  “red- 
pine”  is  an  appropriate  one,  much  more  so  than  Nor- 
way pine,  which  is  misleading,  and  for  this  reason  the  ’ 
use  of  the  latter  should  not  be  encouraged.  ; 

8 ! 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


PITCH  PINE  {Pinus  ri£ida  Mill.) 

On  the  young  trees,  the  branches  are  horizontal, 
rigid,  produced  in  remote  regular  whorls,  forming  an 
open  narrow  crown.  In  old  age,  the  branches  are  stout, 
contorted,  and  form  a low,  broad,  rounded  head.  It 
attains  a diameter  of  one  to  two  feet,  and  a height  of 
only  thirty  to  forty  feet,  often  being  very  much  shorter 
than  this.  The  trunk  tapers  rapidly  and  generally  is 
straight.  Very  often  the  tree  produces  fruit  when 
only  a few  feet  high. 

The  bark  is  rough  even  on  young  stems  and 
branches.  On  old  trees,  it  is  irregularly  divided  into 
continuous  broad  flat  ridges,  and  is  deep  gray  or  reddish 
brown  in  color. 


PITCH  PINE.— One-half  natural  size. 

From  Sargent’s  “Manual  of  the  Trees  of  North  America,’’  by  permission 
of  Houghton,  Mifflin  & Co, 

The  leaves  are  in  clusters  of  three,  and  are  from 
three  to  five  inches  long.  They  are  dark  yellow  green, 
stiff,  standing  at  right  angles  to  the  branch. 

The  cones  are  one  to  three  inches  long,  borne  on 
short  stalks,  hardly  noticeable,  and  are  often  produced 
in  clusters.  A sharp,  rigid  curved  prickle  is  produced 
on  the  tip  of  each  scale.  The  cones  often  remain  on 
the  trees  ten  to  twelve  years. 

The  pitch  pine  grows  on  sandy  plains,,  and  on  the 
dry  gravelly  soil  of  the  uplands.  It  is  quite  common 
in  the  southwest  part  of  the  State,  and  on  the  sand 
plains  near  Brunswick  it  is  the  only  species  found  on 
areas  of  considerable  extent. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  coarse  grained,  brittle 
but  durable.  It  is  used  for  fuel,  for  the  production  of 
charcoal  and  to  some  extent  for  lumber  of  the  poorer 
grades.  It  is  sometimes  used  for  box  board  lumber. 

The  wood  is  very  resinous,  and  at  one  time  quite 
large  quantities  of  tar  and  turpentine  were  obtained 
from  it.  Q 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


JACK  PINE  (Gray  Pine)  )Pinus  hanksiana  Lamb.) 

The  spreading  branches  are  long  and  flexible  and 
form  an  open  head  of  symmetrical  outline.  The  tree  is 
only  about  twenty  to  thirty  feet  tall,  and  ten  to  twelve 
inches  in  diameter.  Fruit  is  very  often  produced 
when  the  trees  are  only  a few  years  old. 

The  bark  is  thin  and  irregularly  divided  into 
rounded  ridges,  the  surface  being  covered  with  small, 
thick  scales.  It  is  dark  brown  in  color,  having  a 

slight  tinge  of  red. 

The  leaves  are  in  clusters  of  two,  widely  distrib- 
uted on  the  branches.  They  are  stout,  arid  flat,  or 
nearly  so,  yellow  green  at  first,  becoming  dark  green 
and  three-fourths  to  one  and  oneTourth  inches  long. 

The  cones  are  rather  slender,  one  and  one-half  • 
to  two  inches  long,  conical  in  shape,  and  are  without  a ; 
stalk.  They  are  very  much  curved,  but  usually  borne  ; 
in  an  erect  position  with  reference  to  the  branch.  The  ) 
scales  have  minute  prickles  which  are  often  deciduous.  , 
The  cones  usually  remain  closed  for  several  years,  and  f 
often  do  not  fall  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years.  ; 

The  Jack  pine  grows  on  sterile,  sandy  soil,  and  on  ’ 
barren  lands.  It  extends  southward  to  the  shores  of  ; 
vSchoodic  peninsula  in  Frenchman’s  bay,  and  has’ 
been  found  at  the  outlet  of  Alamoosook  pond,  south  of] 
Bucksport.  It  is  not  common  in  this  State.  < 

7'he  wood  is  not  strong,  and  is  soft,  light,  and; 
close-grained.  It  is  used  for  fuel,  and  to  some  extent  • 
for  posts  and  railroad  ties.  Of  late  years,  it  has  been 
used  for  box  board  lumber. 


lO 


s 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


TAMARACK  (Hackmatack,  Larch)  (La>^x /a^zcma 

K.  Koch.) 

In  the  forest,  the  tree  is  generally  tall,  having  a 
regular,  narrow,  pyramidal  head,  the  branches  being 
small  and  horizontal.  The  trunk  of  old  trees  tapers 
very  rapidly,  and  gets  to  be  eighteen  to  twenty  inches 
in  diameter  and  fifty  to  sixty  feet  tall. 

The  bark  separates  on  the  surface  into  thin 
scales  of  a reddish  brown  color. 

The  leaves  are  linear  from  three-fourths  of  an 
inch  to  one  and  one-quarter  inches  long,  triangular  in 
shape,  and  borne  in  clusters  of  ten  and  more.  They 
are  bright  green  and  turn  a dull  yellow  in  September  or 
October  just  before  they  fall.  The  tamarack  is  the 
only  one  of  our  conifers  that  sheds  all  its  leaves  every 
fall. 


TAMARACK. 

Branchlet  and  cone.  One-half  natural  size. 


The  cones  are  small,  nearly  spherical,  about  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  long,  light  brown,  and  borne  on  stout 
stems.  They  open  in  the  fall  to  liberate  the  small 
winged  seed  and  usually  remain  on  the  tree  until  the 
second  year. 

The  tree  is  most  commonly  found  in  cool,  swampy 
places  although  it  grows  on  well  drained  soil.  It  is 
found  in  practically  every  part  of  the  State. 

The  wood  is  rather  coarse-grained,  hard,  heavy, 
strong  and  durable.  It  is  used  for  ship  knees,  railroad 
ties  and  posts. 

About  twenty-five  years  ago,  the  larch-saw  fly 
killed  the  tamarack,  and  there  are  now  very  few  trees 
of  commercial  size.  A nice  young  growth  has  since 
sprung  up  which  will  soon  be  large  enough  for  lumber. 

In  Maine,  the  name  Juniper  is  quite  commonly 
applied  to  this  tree,  but  since  it  is  the  common  name 
of  another  tree  which  is  a true  juniper,  the  use  of  this 
name  should  be  discouraged. 


II 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


SPRUCES 

The  Important  Distinctions 


BLACK  SPRUCE 

{Picea  mariana  B.S.&  P) 


RED  SPRUCE 

(Picea  rubra  Dietr.) 


Leaves 

Blue-green;  not  glossy. 


Leaves 

Yellow-green;  very  shiny 


WHITE  SPRUCE 


(Picea  canadensis 
B.  S.  & P.) 


Leaves 

Blue-green;  not  glossy. 


Cones 


One-half  to  one  and  one- 
half  inches  long.  Cone 
scales  stiff  and  rigid 
when  ripe.  Cones 
nearly  spherical  when 
open.  Usually  remain 
on  tree  many  years. 


Cones 


One  to  two  inches  long. 
Cone  scales  stiff.  Gen- 
erally fall  the  first  year. 


Cones 


About  two  inches  long,  y 
Cone  scales  flexible  at 
maturity  Usually  fall 
the  first  year 


SPRUCES. 

Branch,  cones  and  cone-scales. 


Note. — The  seed  of  all  spruces  is  winged. 


12 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BLACK  SPRUCE  {Picea  maripa  B.  S.  & P.) 

The  branches  are  comparatively  short,  usually  pen- 
dulous, with  a tendency  to  curve  up  at  the  end,  and 
forming  an  open,  irregular  crown.  It  grows  to  a height 
of  thirty  to  forty  feet  and  a diameter  of  six  to  twelve 
inches.  In  sphagnum  bogs,  trees  fifty  to  eighty  years 
old  get  to  be  only  six  to  eight  feet  tall  and  about  one 
inch  in  diameter. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  is  grayish  brown  and  the 
surface  is  broken  into  thin  scales. 

The  leaves  are  one-fourth  to  three-fourths  of  an 
inch  long  and  are  pale  blue  green  in  color. 

The  cones  are  one-half  to  one  and  one  half-inches 
long  shaped  like  an  egg  and  becoming  nearly  spherical 
when  opened.  The  cone  scales  are  stiff.  The  cones 
usually  stay  on  the  trees  for  several  years  and  frequent- 
ly for  as  many  as  twenty  years. 

The  black  spruce,  though  common  in  the  State  is 
lot  an  important  species.  It  sometimes  grows  on 
ipland  soils,  but  is  usually  found  along  streams,  on  the 
lorders  of  swamps  and  in  sphagnum  bogs. 

; The  wood  is  not  strong  and  is  soft  and  light.  It 
*s  but  little  used,  except  to  some  extent  for  the  man- 
ifacture  of  paper  pulp. 

Formerly  the  black  spruce  and  red  spruce  were  con- 
idered  to  be  the  same  species.  Now  that  they  are 
lassed  separately,  the  black  spruce  is  not  considered  a 
aluable  species  for  commercial  purposes. 


13 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


RED  SPRUCE  (Picea  rubra  Dietr.) 

The  slender  spreading  branches  form  a somewhat 
conical  and  narrow  head  in  youth  and  middle  age. 
When  there  is  plenty  of  light,  the  branches  are  very  ‘ 
persistent,  but  soon  drop  off  from  trees  in  crowded 
stands.  It  produces  a long  trunk  often  having  but  a | 
slight  taper.  In  this  State  it  gets  to  be  a tree  of  con-  , 
siderable  size,  attaining  a height  of  sixty"  to  eighty  | 
feet  and  a diameter  of  one  to  two  feet,  occasionally  ! 
exceeding  these  both  in  height  and  diameter.  j 

The  bark  is  about  one-half  inch  thick  and  is 
broken  into  thin,  reddish  brown  scales  of  irregular 
shape. 

The  leaves  are  dark  green  often  with  a slightly  | 
yellow  tinge  and  are  very  shiny.  They  are  about  half  i 
an  inch  long. 

The  cones  are  oblong  in  shape  and  usually  from; 
one  to  two  inches  long.  When  ripe,  they  have  a reddish 
brown  color  and  are  quite  shiny.  The  cone  scales  are^ 
stiff  like  the  black  spruce.  The  cones  begin  to  drop  off , 
in  the  autumn  or  early  winter  and  are  all  gone  from  the  | 
branches  by  the  next  summer.  i 

The  red  spruce  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  State’l 
where  the  soil  conditions  are  suitable  for  its  growth 
and  is  the  most  abundant  of  our  conifers.  It  grows  oh 
the  well-drained  upland  soils,  and  on  the  mountain' 
slopes,  preferring  north  slopes,  where,  sometimes,  it  isp 
almost  the  only  species. 

Pure  stands  of  this  species  are  common. 

The  wood  is  soft,  light  and  close-grained,  but  isj 
not  as  durable  as  pine  when  exposed  to  the  weather.  j 
The  growing  scarcity  of  white  pine  makes  the  red 
spruce  one  of  our  most  valuable  trees  for  the  production 
of  lumber.  It  is  used  for  joists,  sills,  scantlings  and 
heavy  construction  timbers,  and  is  the  principal  wooc 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  pulp.  It  is  alsc, 
valuable  for  the  sounding  boards  of  musical  instruj 
ments.  The  lumber  is  sawed  to  some  extent  for  bo^: 
boards.  Oars,  barrel  staves  and  headings  are  als(! 

• manufactured  from  it. 


14 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WHITK  SPRUCK  (Picea  canadensis  B.  S.  & P.) 

The  long  and  rather  thick  branches,  densely  clothed 
jwith  stout,  rigid  lateral  branches,  are  curved  upward, 
land  form  a somewhat  open,  irregular  head,  having  a 
broad  base.  It  grows  to  a height  of  sixty  to  seventy 
feet,  and  a diameter  not  greater  than  two  feet. 

The  bark  is  composed  of  thin,  irregular  light 
(gray  plate-like  scales  tinged  somewhat  with  brown  on 
I the  surface. 

■ The  leaves  on  the  lower  side  of  the  branches  arc 
twisted  in  such  a manner  as  to  bring  them  all  on  the 
upper  side.  They  are  pale  blue  at  first,  becoming  a 
dark  blue  green  or  pale  blue  later.  The  foliage  emits 
a peculiar  and  characteristic  odor  which  offers  a ready 
means  of  distinguishing  it  from  the  other  s])ecies.  It  is 
because  of  this  odor  that  it  is  so  commonly  called  the 
“cat  spruce”  by  lumbermen,  and  sometimes  “skunk 
spruce.  ” 

The  cones  are  slender,  cylindrical  in  shape,  and 
usually  about  two  inches  long.  When  ripe,  they  are 
pale  brown  and  shiny.  The  cone  scales  are  thin  and 
dastic,  and  give  easily  when  the  cone  is  clasped  in  the 
land.  The  cones  fall  off  in  the  autumn  or  during 
vinter. 

The  white  spruce  is  a widely  distributed  species  in 
Maine,  but  is  not  as  abundant  as  the  red  spruce.  It 
nhabits  the  borders  of  swamps  and  the  banks  of  lakes 
ind  streams. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  straight  grained,  but  not 
strong.  It  is  used  to  some  extent  for  pulp  and  also  for 
umber. 

Both  the  white  and  black  spruce  produce  long  flex- 
ble  roots  that  are  very  tough  and  pliable  and  are  used 
)y  the  Indians  for  tying  together  pieces  of  birch  bark 
or  canoes,  and  for  various  other  purposes. 

m 


15 


} 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


H KM  LOCK  (Tsuga  canadensis  Carr.)  , 

In  early  age,  the  lower  branches  are  horizontal  or 
pendulous,  those  above  being  ascending.  They  form  i 
a pyramidal  head  having  a broad  base.  The  lower  , 
branches  are  persistent  unless  shaded  by  other  trees.  | 
The  terminal  shoot  is  pendulous.  In  the  forest  the  j 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BALSAM  FIR  {Abies  balsamea  Mill.) 

Until  the  tree  is  about  twenty  years  old  the  branches 
are  produced  in  regular  whorls  usually  of  five.  At 
this  period,  they  are  slender  and  horizontal  and  form  a 
strikingly  symmetrical  head,  having  a broad  base.  In 
old  age,  the  top  branches  are  short  and  crowded,  and 
form  a slim,  regular  and  spire-like  head.  The  tree 
grows  to  a height  of  sixty  to  seventy  feet  and  a diam- 
eter of  twelve  to  twenty  inches. 

The  bark  on  young  trees  is  of  a pale  gray  color, 
smooth,  thin,  and  prominently  marked  by  chambers 
filled  with  resin  or  balsam.  On  old  trees  the  bark  is 
quite  thick,  broken  into  irregular  plates  covered  with 
thin  scales  and  has  a reddish  brown  color. 


BALSAM  FIR 

Branchlet  and  cone. 


The  leaves  are  one- half  an  inch  to  one  and  one- 
fourth  inches  long,  dark  green,  the  lower  side  silvery 
white,  the  upper  shiny,  the  tips  being  occasionally 
notched,  but  only  on  the  top  branches.  They  spread 
out  at  nearly  right  angles  to  the  branch  giving  it  a flat- 
tened appearance. 

The  cones  are  cylindrical,  two  to  four  inches  long 
and  dark  purple  in  color.  They  are  erect  on  the  branch- 
es and  fall  to  pieces  soon  after  ripening. 

The  balsam  fir  is  very  abundant  in  the  State,  being 
found  everywhere  except  in  the  extreme  southwest 
part,  extending  all  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Portland. 
On  swampy  land,  it  frequently  forms  a large  part  of 
the  forest,  while  on  well-drained  hillsides,  it  occurs 
either  singly  or  in  thickets  in  the  spruce  forests. 

The  wood  is  of  poor  quality,  coarse-grained, 
soft,  light  and  decays  rapidly.  It  is  sawed  into  lumber 
chiefly  for  packing  boxes,  and  is  used  to  a limited 
degree  for  paper  pulp.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
wood  imparts  no  flavor  or  odor,  it  is  used  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  butter  pails  and  tubs. 

17 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WHITK  CEDAR  (Arbor  Vitae)  {Thuya  occidentalis  ly.) 

The  head  is  compact,  narrow  and  pyramidal  in  j 
shape.  The  branches  are  horizontal,  short  and  turned  ' 
upward.  It  is  from  fifty  to  sixty  feet  tall  and  usually  | 
two  to  three  feet  in  diameter.  The  trunk  is  often  '\ 
very  strongly  buttressed.  | 

The  bark  has  shallow  fissures,  which  divide  it  | 
into  flat  narrow  ridges.  It  is  reddish  brown  in  color, 
tinged  very  often  with  orange.  ! 

The  leaves  are  usually  only  about  one-eighth  of 
an  inch  long,  scale  like,  and  so  arranged  as  to  make  the  | 
small  branches  flat  in  shape.  They  have  a pleasing 
aromatic  odor,  and  to  some  a rather  pleasing  taste. 


WHITE  CEDAR.— One-half  natural  size.  ; 

From  Sargent’s  “Manual  of  the  Trees  of  North  America,  by  permission  of  j 
Houghton,  Mifflin  & Co.  \ 


The  cones  are  small,  being  only  about  half  an  ! 
inch  long,  usually  with  only  four  fertile  scales.  They ' 
mature  in  one  season.  The  seed  is  small  and  winged.  ; 

The  white  cedar  is  generally  found  on  swampy  ground  j 
where  it  often  forms  dense  stands.  It  is  found  to  i 
some  extent  in  other  localities  where  the  soil  is  very  i 
moist.  It  is  widely  distributed  in  the  State  but  is 
most  abundant  in  the  northern  and  eastern  sections. 

The  wood  is  soft  and  light,  coarse-grained,  brittle,  ’ 
very  durable  and  has  a fragrant  odor.  It  is  used  for  ' 
railroad  ties,  shingles,  poles  and  fence  posts.  I 


Note  — Another  species  of  white  cedar  (Chamacy parts  thyoides  Britt,) 
occurs  in  southern  Maine  only  near  the  coast,  but  is  not  abundant.  This 
tree  grows  in  cold  swamps  which  are  flooded  for  several  months  of  the  year. 


i8 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


RED  CEDAR  (^Juniperus  virpiniana  Iv.) 

The  red  cedar  is  very  variable  in  its  habit.  The 
young  trees  have  slender  horizontal  branches,  and  a nar- 
row, compact,  conical  head,  which  in  the  old  trees 
becomes  broad  and  much  rounded.  It  attains  a diam- 
eter of  eight  to  twelve  inches,  and  in  this  State  probably 
does  not  exceed  a height  of  thirty  feet. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  is  light  brown,  tinged  with 
red, and  separating  into  long  narrow  shreds  on  old  trees. 

The  leaves  are  scale-like,  about  one-sixteenth  of 
an  inch  long,  dark  bluish  green,  and  remain  on  the  tree 
five  and  six  years,  growing  hard  and  woody  the  third 


RED  CEDAR 

Two-thirds  natural  size. 


eason.  Sometimes  they  are  awl  shape,  especially  on 
'oung  trees,  and  on  vigorous  branches. 

The  fruit  is  berry-like,  globular,  pale  green  at 
rst,  becoming  dark  blue  when  ripe,  and  is  about  the 
ize  of  a pea. 

The  red  cedar  is  not  a common  species  in  this  State, 
t grows  on  poor  soils,  gravelly  slopes,  rocky  ridges, 
nd  on  moist  ground.  It  gets  the  name  “red  cedar’’ 
'om  the  red  color  of  the  heart  wood. 

The  wood  is  brittle,  fine-grained,  light,  easily 
orked  and  durable.  The  heart  wood  has  a dull  red 
:)lor.  It  is  of  value  for  fence  posts,  pails  and  cabinet 
aking  but  in  this  State  is  of  little  commercial  impor- 
nce.  It  is  this  wood  which  is  used  in  the  manufac- 
ire  of  pencils. 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BUTTERNUT  {Juglans  cineref  L.) 


The  butternut  frequently  has  stout,  spreading  limbs 
extending  horizontally  from  the  trunk  to  form  a low, 
broad,  rounded  head.  It  is  a tree  thirty  to  forty  feet 
high  and  having  a diameter  of  one  to  two  feet. 

The  bark  of  young  trees  and  of  the  branches  is 
smooth  and  light  gray.  On  old  trees,  it  is  broadly 
ridged  on  the  trunk  and  of  a light  brown  color. 

The  leaves  are  fifteen  to  thirty  inches 
long,  alternate,  and  have  eleven  to  seven- 
teen leaflets.  The  nuts  are  about  three 
inches  long,  cylindrical,  covered  with  sticky 
hairs,  and  produced  in  drooping  clusters. 


BUTTERNUT 

Winter  twig. 

One-half 
natural  size. 


BUTTERNUT 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 


The  butternut  occurs  to  some  extent  throughout  the 
southern  section  of  the  State.  It  grows  on  rich,  moist 
soil  and  on  rocky  hills.  Not  abundant. 

The  wood  is  coarse-grained,  light,  soft  and  not 
strong,  and  is  used  for  furniture  and  interior  finishing 
of  buildings.  It  takes  a good  polish. 


20 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


HICKORIES 


The  Important  Distinctions. 


BITTERNUT 

SHAGBARK 

PIGNUT 

(Carya  cordifolia  C.  K. 
Schn.) 

{Carya  ovata  C.  K.  Schn.) 

{Carya  glabra  C.  K.Schn.) 

Bark  on  Trunk 

Bark  on  Trunk 

Bark  on  Trunk 

Broken  into  thin  plate- 
like scales  light  gray;  not 
as  rough  as  shagbark. 

Broken  into  long,  thick 
plates,  loosely  attached 
to  tree;  light  gray;  very 
rough. 

Frequently  broken  into 
short  plates;  dark  gray 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Five  to  nine  leaflets. 

Usually  five  leaflets, 
rarely  seven. 

Five  or  seven,  rarely  nine 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Bright  yellow;  two  pairs 
of  scales. 

Three  or  four  outer  scales; 
dark  brown.  Often  have 
long  rigid  points  and  fall 
before  leaves  begin  to  de- 
velop. Terminal  bud 
shaped  like  an  egg. 

Outer  scales  dark  reddish 
brown,  shiny,  usually 
falling  early  in  autumn. 
Terminal  bud  elliptical. 

Fruit 

Thin  husk;  thin  and 
brittle  shell;  very  bitter 
kernel. 

Fruit 

Husk  thick;  shell  usually 
thick;  kernel  sweet. 

Fruit 

Varies  much  in  shape  and 
size.  Husk  usually  thin, 
shell  either  thick  or  thin, 
kernel  sweet  or  bitter. 

21 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

BITTERNUT  (Swamp  Hickory)  (Carya  cordifoHa  C.  K 


Schn.) 


The  tree  produces  a broad  head  or  crown  with  stout 
spreading  branches  and  grows  to  a height  of  about  fifty 
feet.  The  trunk  has  a gradual  taper  and  gets  to  be 
one  and  two  feet  in  diameter. 

The  bark  separates  into  thin,  plate-like  scales  on 
the  trunk.  It  is  of  a gray  color,  tinged  with  yellow. 
The  young  branches  are  bright  green  and  smooth. 


BITTERNUT 

Winter  twig. 

One- half 
natural  size. 


BITTERNUT  HICKORY 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 


nine  leaflets  which  are  smaller  and  more  slender  than 
those  of  other  species. 

The  fruit  is  about  one  inch  long,  and  has  a thin 
husk  that  separates  along  well  defined  lines  when  ripe. 
The  nut  usually  has  a thin  and  brittle  shell  and  the  ker- 
nel is  very  bitter. 

The  bitternut  prefers  low,  wet  woods,  although  it  is 
found  on  high  rolling  uplands.  Found  only  in  south- 
ern Maine. 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  strong,  heavy,  hard 
and  tough.  It  is  used  for  hoops  and  fuel. 


22 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


SHAGBARK  (Shell  bark)  {Carya  ovata  C.  K.  Scbn.) 


A tree  with  a narrow  cylindrieal  head  that  in  the 
forest  is  often  very  short,  leaving  the  straight,  gradually 
tapering  trunk  free  of  branches  for  a considerable  dis- 
tance. It  is  the  tallest  of  the  hickories,  usually  attain- 
ing a height  of  from  fifty  to  seventy  feet  and  a diameter 
not  greater  than  two  feet. 

The  bark  is  light  gray  on  the  trunk  and  separates 
into  long  thick  plates  often  a foot  or  more  in  length. 
These  are  only  slightly  attached  and  give  the  trunk  a 
shaggy  appearance. 

The  leaves  are  compound,  alternate, 
eight  to  fourteen  inches  long,  the  leaflets  or- 
dinarily five  in  number,  rarely  seven. 


SHAGBARK  HICKORY 

jeaf  and  young  fruit.  One-third 
natural  size. 


SHAGBARK 
Winter  twig. 
One-half  size. 


The  fruit  has  the  thick  outer  coat  deeply  grooved 
at  the  seams.  It  separates  along  definite  lines  when 
ripe.  It  is  globular  in  shape  and  is  borne  singly  or  in 
pairs.  The  kernel  is  sweet.  The  fruit  ripens  in  fall. 

The  shagbark  hickory  grows  near  streams  or  swamps, 
or  on  low  hills,  preferring  the  deep,  rich,  moist,  but  well- 
drained  soil.  Found  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State, 
but  not  abundantly. 

The  wood  is  very  strong,  close-grained,  heavy, 
hard,  tough  and  flexible.  It  is  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  agricultural  implements,  for  making  carriages  and 
wagons,  especially  the  spokes  and  rims  of  the  wheels, 
and  for  ax  and  tool  handles.  The  nuts  are  sold  in 
the  markets. 


23 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


PIGNUT  {Carya  glabra  C.  K.  Schn.)  | 

A tree  having  a tall,  slender  trunk,  one  to  two  feet  in  | 
diameter,  spreading  and  often  contorted  branches,  and 
rather  narrow  cylindrical  head.  A fairly  tall  tree 
growing  to  a height  of  fifty  to  sixty  feet. 

The  bark  of  the  trunk  on  old  trees  is  compara- 
tively smooth,  sometimes  broken  into  plates  like  that 
of  the  shagback  but  only  five  to  six  inches  long.  It  is 
gray  to  dark  gray  in  color. 


The  leaves  are  alternate,  eight  to 
twelve  inches  long,  compound,  usually  hav-' 
ing  five  to  seven  rather  small  narrow  leaf- 
lets. 

The  fruit  varies  greatly  in  shape, 
being  round,  pear-shaped,  or  egg-shaped. 

The  size  also  varies,  usually  being  small. 


PIGNUT.  ^ 

Winter  twig.  PIGNUT  HICKORY 

One-half  natural  size.  Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size.  ; 

The  outer  covering  is  generally  thin,  and  when  ripe,| 
separates  along  well  defined  lines.  The  shell  is  eithei 
thick  or  thin  and  the  kernel  sweet  or  bitter.  Thei 
fruit  is  borne  singly  or  in  pairs  and  ripens  in  October,! 

The  pignut  inhabits  dry  ridges  and  hillsides.  Foundj 
infthe  southern  section  of  the  State.  j 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  hard,  heavy,  ancj 
strong,  and  is  also  tough  and  flexible.  It  is  used  in  thf 
manufacture  of  agricultural  implements,  for  wagons 
, and  as  handles  for  axes  and  tools. 


24 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


POPLARS 


The  Important  Distinctions. 


ASPEN 

(Populus  tremuloides 
Michx.) 

LARGE  TOOTH 
ASPEN 

{Populxis  grandidentata 
Michx.) 

BALSAM  POPLAR 

(Populus  balsamifera  L.) 

, 

Bark 

Often  with  horizontal 
bands  of  circular  wart 
like  outgrowths.  Ver5- 
bitter. 

Bark 

Smooth;  not  bitter. 

, 

1 Bark 

Smooth  or  roughened  by 
dark  excrescences. 

Leaves 

Circular  outline.  Edges 
finely  toothed;  shiny 
upper  surface.  One  and 
one-half  inches  long. 

Leaves 

Broadly  egg-shaped  edges 
irregularly  and  coarsely 
toothed.  Upper  surface 
not  shiny.  Three  to  four 
inches  long. 

_ 

Leaves 

Egg-shaped , but  n a r - 
rower  than  large  tooth 
aspen.  Edges  finely 
toothed.  Upper  surface 
shiny.  Three  to  five 
inches  long. 

Winter  Buds 

Slightly  sticky,  shiny, 
conical. 

Winter  Buds 

Not  sticky;  edges  of  bud 
scales  fringed  withwhitish 
hairs.  Broadly  egg- 

shaped. 

Winter  Buds 

Very  sticky;  egg-shaped, 
shiny. 

Note  —The  white  poplar  (P.  alba)  and  the  Carolina  poplar  (P.  caro- 
hnensis  Willd.)  are  two  introduced  species  planted  to  some  extent.  The 
nrst  IS  e^ily  recognized  by  its  leaves  which  are  green  above  and  white- 
cottony  beneath.  The  Carolina  poplar  has  a long,  narrow  crown  and  the 
upper  surface  of  the  leaves  is  very  shiny.  The  Swamp  Cotton  wood  (P! 
neterophylla  L.)  has  been  found  here  but  is  rare. 

The  poplars  can  be  readily  started  by  cuttings. 


25 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


ASPEN  POPLAR  {Populus  tremuloides  Michx.) 

A graceful  tree  with  slender  branches  far  apart  and 
often  contorted.  Head  round  and  narrow.  It  grows 
to  a height  of  sixty  to  seventy-five  feet  and  a diameter 
of  ten  to  sixteen  inches. 

The  bark  is  smooth,  often  roughened  by  hori- 
zontal lines  of  wartlike  outgrowths.  It  is  pale 
green  with  dark  brown  patches.  On  the  trunk  of  old 
trees  it  is  ash  gray,  dark  at  the  base  where  it  is  divided 
into  broad,  flat  ridges.  It  has  a very  bitter  taste 
similar  to  quinine. 


AMERICAN  ASPEN 


Leaves  and  flowers;  1 staminate,  2 pistillate.  One-third  natural  size.  ■ 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  more  or  less  rounded,  i 
finely  toothed,  dark  green  and  shiny  above,  and  one' 
and  one-half  to  two  inches  long.  The  leaf  stalk  is  * 
slender  and  flattened.  i 

The  flowers  are  in  catkins  which  appear  before" 
the  leaves.  i 

The  fruit  ripens  about  June.  The  seeds  are 
very  small  and  light  and  are  carried  long  distances  by 
the  wind. 

The  aspen  is  a rapid  growing  tree,  and  is  very  abun- 1 
dant  in  the  State.  It  sometimes  forms  nearly  pure  * 
stands,  and  is  very  common  in  mixture  with  other ! 
species.  It  is  found  on  many  different  kinds  of  soil, ; 
but  makes  the  best  growth  on  a sandy  and  fairly  moist : 
soil.  Frequently  it  is  the  first  species  to  start  when; 
the  forest  is  removed,  and  especially  after  burns.  | 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  but  soft,  and  rots! 
very  easily.  It  is  used  for  box  boards,  excelsior,  and! 
for  the  manufacture  of  pulp  for  our  book  paper.  It  is 
also  cut  for  fuel. 


26 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


LARGE  TOOTH  ASPEN  {Populus  grandidentata 
Michx.) 

The  large  tooth  aspen  is  much  like  the  aspen  in 
habit.  It  is  a rapid  grower,  and  attains  a height  of 
sixty  to  eighty  feet  and  a diameter  of  ten  to  twenty 
inches. 

The  bark  is  smooth,  and  of  a greenish  gray  color. 
At  the  base  of  old  trees,  it  is  dark  and  divided  into 
broad,  irregular,  flat  ridges. 

The  leaves  are  three  to  four  inches  long,  broadly 
egg-shaped,  and  have  a dark  green  upper  surface.  The 
edges  are  coarsely  and  irregularly  toothed.  The 
petiole,  or  leaf  stalk,  is  flat. 


LARGETOOTH  ASPEN 

Leaves  and  flowers;  pistillate  above,  staminate  below. 
One-third  natural  size. 


The  flowers  are  in  catkins,  appearing  in  April 
before  the  leaves. 

The  fruit  ripens  in  May  about  the  time  the 
leaves  begin  to  come  out.  The  seed  is  small  and  light 
and  is  carried  along  ways  by  the  wind. 

The  large  tooth  aspen  is  a very  common  tree,  usually 
growing  in  mixture  with  the  aspen,  and  like  it,  growing 
in  various  soils  and  in  different  situations,  but  making 
the  best  development  in  a rich  sandy  and  fairly  moist 
soil.  It  grows  with  other  species  either  scattered 
through  the  forest  or  in  small  groves. 

The  wood  is  like  that  of  the  preceding  species, 
and  is  used  for  the  same  purposes. 


27 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BALSAM  POPLAR  (Balm  of  Gilead)  {Popuhis 

halsamifera  L.) 

I 

In  habit,  the  tree  is  somewhat  different  from  the  two 
preceding.  The  branches  are  stout,  erect,  and  more  or 
less  contorted  at  the  ends,  and  form  an  open,  rather 
narrow  head.  It  gets  to  be  seventy  to  eighty  feet  tall, 
and  fifteen  to  thirty  inches  in  diameter. 

The  bark  on  young  trees  is  smooth,  or  sometimes 
roughened  by  dark  ontgrowths  and  is  light  brown  with  ; 
a reddish  tinge.  On  the  trunk  of  old  trees,  it  is  gray  ; 
and  separated  into  broad,  round  ridges. 


BALSAM  POPLAR  (Balm  of  Gilead.) 


The  leaves  are  egg-shaped,  three  to  five  inches  j 
long,  but  not  as  wide  as  the  preceding  species.  They'H 
are  deep  dark  green  and  shiny  on  the  upper  surface,: 
light  green  and  more  or  less  rusty  on  the  under  side.! 
The  edges  are  finely  toothed. 

The  flowers  are  in  catkins  which  appear  early 
in  the  spring.  The  seed  ripens  the  last  of  May  or  early 
in  June  and  is  attached  to  a cottony  mass  so  that  if 
is  often  carried  long  distances  by  the  wind. 

The  balsam  popular  inhabits  the  borders  of  swampSii 
and  the  low  bottom  lands  along  rivers  that  frequently 
become  overflowed.  It  is  a widely  distributed  tree.j 
and  is  common  throughout  the  State. 

The  wood  is  like  that  of  the  other  trees,  and 
used  for  the  same  purposes. 


28 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BLACK  WILLOW  {Salix  nigra  Marsh.) 

The  black  willow  is  usually  not  a very  tall  tree  grow- 
ing to  a height  of  thirty  to  forty  feet  and  attaining  a 
diameter  of  one  to  two  feet  or  greater.  The  branches 
are  stout,  upright  and  spreading  and  form  a broad, 
handsome,  open  head  with  an  irregular  outline.  The 
small  branches  are  bright  reddish  brown  to  pale  orange 

in  color.  ; 3^-1 

. -‘■"swy 

The  bark  is  deeply  divided  into  broad  flat  ridges 
and  separates  into  thick  plate-like  scales.  On  old 
trees  it  becomes  very  shaggy.  In  color  it  varies  from 
light  brown  tinged  with  orange  to  dark  brown  or  nearly 
black. 


The  leaves  are  three  to  six  inches  long,  narrow, 
with  long  tapering  tips  and  finely  toothed  edges.  They 
ire  a bright  light  green,  and  somewhat  lustrous  above 
ind  turn  light  yellow  in  the  fall. 

The  flowers  are  produced  in  catkins  at  the  end 
)f  the  shoot  and  are  from  one  to  three  inches  long. 
They  appear  with  the  leaves. 

The  black  willow  occurs  along  the  banks  of  streams 
ind  lakes  throughout  the  State  and  is  the  largest  and 
nost  conspicuous  of  our  native  willows.  The  species  is 
lot  of  any  great  commercial  importance. 

The  wood  is  soft,  light  and  weak. 


29 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


HORNBEAM  OR  IRONWOOD  {Ostrya  virqiniana 
K.  Koch.) 

The  ironwood  is  a small  tree  with  either  an  open  or 
round  topped  head.  In  height  it  is  from  twenty  to 
thirty  feet  with  a diameter  ranging  from  six  to  ten 
inches.  The  branches  are  long  and  slender  and  the 
ends  are  somewhat  drooping.  The  small  branches 
are  very  tough  and  for  this  reason  the  tree  is  not  easily 
injured  by  the  wind. 

The  bark  separates  easily  into  thin,  narrow 
scales,  becoming  finer  and  stringy  on  older  trees.  On 
the  trunk,  it  is  light  brown,  tinged  with  red. 

The  leaves 

are  either  e g g - 
shaped  or  nearly 
oblong,  alternate, 
sharply  toothed, 
base  often  unequal, 
and  two  to  three 
inches  long.  They 
are  much  like  those 
of  the  blue  beech. 

They  are  tough  so 
that  the  wind  does 
not  injure  them 
easily. 

The  flowers 

are  in  catkins  which 
are  in  clusters  usu- 
ally of  three,  some  appearing  in  the  fall  and  some  in  thej 
spring. 

The  fruit  closely  resembles  that  of  hops,  hencei 
the  name  “ hop  hornbeam.  ” It  ripens  in  September.  | 

The  ironwood  is  a fairly  rapid  grower,  especially  in; 
good  soil.  It  grows  on  slopes  and  ridges  having  a dry,; 
gravelly  soil,  and  is  often  found  in  the  shade  of  otheil 
species.  While  it  is  a common  tree, it  is  not  very  abunj 
dant.  j 

The  wood  is  very  close-grained,  heavy,  ver\I 
strong,  tough  and  is  exceedingly  hard  when  seasoned! 
‘It  is  used  for  levers,  mallets  and  tool  handles. 

30 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BLUE  BEECH  (Carpinus  cai oliniana  Walt.) 


The  blue  beech  is  a small,  slow  growing  tree  ten  to 
twenty-five  feet  tall  and  four  to  ten  inches  in  diameter. 
The  branches  are  crooked  and  irregular,  forming  a com- 
pact, broad,  roundish  and  flat  head.  The  trunk  is 
irregularly  ridged  longitudinally. 


BLUE  BEECH 

Winter  twig.  One-half  natural  size. 


The  bark  is  smooth,  and  of  a grayish-blue  color. 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  egg-shaped,  or  oval, 
two  to  three  inches  long,  and  sharply  toothed. 

The  flowers  are  produced  in  catkins  which 
appear  in  the  spring. 

The  fruit  hangs  at  the  end  of  a leaflike  body, 
and  is  borne  in  open  clusters. 

The  blue  beech  is  quite  common  inhabiting  wet 
woods  and  the  borders  of  swamps  and  streams. 

The  wood  is  close-grained-compact,  strong,  tough 
and  durable. 


31 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BIRCHES 

The  Important  Distinctions. 


BLACK  BIRCH 

YELLOW  BIRCH 

GRAY  BIRCH 

WHITE  BIRCH 

(Betula  lenta  L.) 

{Betula  lutea 
Michx) 

{Betula  populifolia 
Marsh) 

{Betula  papyrifera 
Marsh) 

Bark 

Bark 

Bark 

Bcirk 

Without  luster, 
dark  to  almost 
black.  Smooth,  or 
broken  into  irreg- 
u'lar  plates.  Strong- 
ly aroma  tic  on 
young  branches. 

Bright  s i 1 Y e r y 
gray  or  light 
orange  in  color, 
separating  into 
thin,  ribbon-1  ik  e 
strips.  Aromatic 
on  young  branches 

Outer,  chalky  o r 
grayish  white; 
lunei  orange  color. 
Does  not  separate 
into  papery  layers. 

Outer,  cream 
white  and  shiny; 
inner  bright 
orange  color.  Sep- 
arates into  thin, 
papery  layers. 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Egg-s  h a p e d or 
nearly  so.  Edges 
sharply  toothed. 

Egg-s  h a p e d or 
nearly  so.  Edges 
sharply  and  doub- 
ly  toothed. 
Smaller  than  pre- 
ceding 

Triangular  or 
nearly  so.  Edges 
doubly  and  coarse 
ly  toothed. 
Long  pointed. 
Upper  surface 
shiny. 

Egg-shaped  Edges 
generally  doubly 
toothed.  Not  long 
pointed  and  upper 
surface  not  shiny. 

Flowers 

Flowers 

Flowers 

Flowers 

Three  to  four  cat- 
kins on  a shoot; 
not  clustered. 

Three  to  four  cat- 
kins on  a s h o o t; 
not  clustered. 

Catkins  singly  or 
in  pairs  on  the 
shoot. 

Catkins  in  clusters 
of  three. 

FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BLACK  BIRCH  (Cherry  Birch)  {Betula  lenta  U) 


• A rather  handsome  tree  with  a tall  dnrV  j 


wintergreen  flavor. 


The  leaves  are  three  to  four  inches 


long,  aromatic,  egg-shaped  or  somewhat 
oblong,  sharply  toothed,  upper  surface 
dark  green,  dull,  lower  surface,  light 


yellow-green. 


The  flowers  are  produced  in  catkins, 
^e  winter  shoots  containing  three  to  four, 
they  open  just  before  the  leaves  unfold  in 
the  spring. 


SWEET  OR  BLACK  BIRCH 

Leaves  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size 

The  black  birch  inhabits  the  banks  of 
streams,  or  the  moist,  rich  upland  soil. 
It  is  widely  distributed,  but  not  of  a very 
Common  occurrence. 


half  natural  size.can  be  beautifully  polished.  It  is  used 
for  fuel,  and  is  very  much  prized  for  furniture.  An 
oil  having  some  medical  value  can  be  obtained  from 
the  wood  by  distillation,  and  is  generally  known  as 
wintergreen  oil. 

The  name  “cherry  birch”  is  applied  to  this  tree 
because  of  the  resemblance  of  the  bark  on  old  trunks  to 
that  of  the  sweet  cherry. 


33 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


YELLOW  BIRCH  {Betula  lutea  Michx.) 

The  yellow  birch  is  the  largest  of  the  native  birches 
growing  to  a diameter  of  two  and  three  feet  and  a 
height  of  seventy  to  eighty-five  feet.  The  spreading 
branches  are  somewhat  pendulous,  and  form  a broad 
round- topped  head  in  the  open,  but  small  and  irreg- 
ular in  the  woods.  The  trunk  usually  divides  into  two 
or  three  limbs  at  some  distance  from  the  ground. 

The  bark  on  the  branches  and  on 
the  stems  of  young  trees  is  very  shiny, 
silvery  gray  or  light  orange  in  color,  sep- 
arating into  loose,  thin,  often  ribbon-like 
layers.  On  old  trees,  it  is  divided  into 
large  thin  plates,  not  shiny,  and  gray  or 
blackish.  The  young  twigs  are  aromatic 
like  the  black  birch  but  to  a less  degree. 

The  leaves  are  ^ egg-shaped,  or 
nearly  oblong,  alternate,  the  edges  doub- 
ly toothed,  the  upper  side  dull  dark  green 
and  three  to  five  inches  long. 

The  flowers  are  in  catkins.  In 
winter  there  are  three  to  four  on  the 
shoots  but  not  in  clusters.  They  open 
in  the  early  spring. 

The  yellow  birch  is  one  of  the  largest  of 
our  deciduous  leaved  trees.  It  is  com- 
mon in  the  State  and  in  some  sections  is 
quite  abundant.  It  grows  on  rich  soil 
and  inhabits  the  moist  uplands. 

The  wood  is  hard,  strong,  heavy 
and  will  take  a good  polish.  It  is  used 
for  furniture,  flooring,  wheel-hubs  and 
fuel.  The  yellow  birch  is  one  of  our  val- 
uable timber  trees.  yellow 

The  tree  is  very  subject  to  a fungus  birch 

j ^ One- 

disease  that  causes  a rotting  of  the  wood,  half  natural  size. 


34 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

GRAY  BIRCH  {Betula  populifolia  Marsh.) 

The  gray  birch  is  a small  tree  from  twenty  to  thirty 
feet  tall  and  commonly  four  to  eight  inches  in  diameter. 
The  branches  are  short,  slender,  frequently  pendulous, 
and  somewhat  contorted.  These  extend  to  the  ground 
when  the  tree  is  not  too  much  crowded,  and  the  head 
is  long,  narrow,  pointed  and  open.  In  the  forest  the 
head  is  short  and  often  somewhat  irregular,  and  the 
stem  is  tall  and  slender. 

The  bark  is  close  and  firm,  and  does  not 
easily  separate  into  thin  layer  s.  The  outer  part 
is  grayish,  gravish-white  or  chalky,  the  inner 
portion  being  orange  color. 

The  young  shoots  are 
brown  and  the  small* 
branches  are  dark  colored. 

The  leaves  are  two 


f 


GRAY  BIRCH 

Leaves  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 

and  one-half  to  three  inches  in  length,  long- 
pointed,  triangular,  alternate,  coarsely 
toothed,  upper  surface  dark  green  and  glossy. 

The  slightest  breeze  causes  them  to  flutter  like 
those  of  the  poplars  hence  the  scientific  name 
Beiula  populifolia  which  means  “birch  with  P 
poplar  leaves.  ” gray 

The  flowers  are  produced  in  catkins,  birch 
Those  which  appear  in  the  fall  are  usually  soli-Wi“^®^  twig: 
tary.  They  open  in  early  spring  before  the  ^one^-haif 
leaves.  natural  size. 

The  gray  birch  is  short  lived  and  not  a valuable  tree. 
It  is  very  abundant  in  the  southern  sections  of  the  State, 
growing  well  on  the  poorest,  sandy  soils,  yet  by  no 
means  confined  to  them,  sometimes  being  found  on  the 
moist  ground  bordering  swamps  and  ponds.  It  is 
this  tree  that  springs  up  so  often  in  old  fields  and  often 
prepares  the  way  for  the  more  valuable  white  pine. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  often  coarse-grained  and 
is  liable  to  check  in  drying. 

Used  a great  deal  for  fuel  and  to  some  extent  for 
spools  and  shoe  pegs. 


35 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WHITE  BIRCH  (Paper  Birch)  {Betula  papyifera 
Marsh.) 

The  white  birch  is  from  sixty  to  seventy  feet  tall 
growing  to  a diameter  of  one  to  two  feet  and  occasion- 
ally larger.  When  young,  the  branches  are  short, 
slender,  and  spreading,  somewhat  drooping,  and  form- 
ing a narrow,  regular  head.  In  the  forest  the  trunk  is 
free  from  branches  well  up  from  the  ground,  and  the 
tree  forms  an  open,  narrow  and  round-topped  head. 


WHITE  OR  PAPER  BIRCH 

Leaves  and  fruit. 

One-third  natural  size. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  and  limbs  separ- 
ates freely  and  easily  into  thin,  papery  sheets. 

The  outer  surface  is  white  the  inner  part 
being  bright  orange.  On  young  stems  and 
large  limbs  it  is  creamywhite  and  shiny. 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  egg-shaped) 
short-pointed,  two  to  three  inches  long,  doub~ 
ly  toothed,  the  upper  surface  dark  green  and 
dull. 

The  flowers  are  in  catkins  those  ap-  white 

^ OR  PAPER 

pearing  in  the  fall  being  sterile  and  mostly  in  birch 
clusters  of  three.  They  open  in  early  spring  '^aud  bud?® 
before  the  leaves.  One-haif 

natural  size. 

The  white  birch  is  a common  tree  in  all  parts  of 
the  State  except  in  the  southwest  section.  In  some 


36 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

WHITE  BIRCH— Concluded. 

localities,  it  is  found  in  pure,  or  nearly  pure  stands 
covering  small  areas,  but  never  forming  a large  part 
of  the  forest.  It  grows  along  streams  and  oh  the 
borders  of  [lakes  and  ponds,  thriving  best  in  a rich , 
moist  soil. 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  light,  hard,  strong, 
and  tough.  It  is  used  for  shoe  lasts,  pegs,  flooring, 
and  for  spools,  being  the  best  and  most  valuable  wood 
for  the  latter  purpose.  The  bark  is  used  by  the  Indians 
to  make  canoes,  baskets,  etc. 

The  tree  gets  the  name  of  “paper  birch”  because  of 
the  use  to  which  the  bark  was  put  by  the  early  settlers, 
and  that  of  “canoe  birch”  because  the  bark  is  used  by 
the  Indians  to  make  their  birch  bark  canoes. 


37 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BKKCH  (Fagus  ferruginea  Ait.) 

The  beech  grows  to  a height  of  sixty  to  seventy 
feet  and  a diameter  of  one  and  one-half  to  three  feet. 
In  the  open,  the  branches  are  spreading  and  droop- 
ing, and  the  tree  has  a broad,  compact  head.  In 
the  forest,  the  short  branches  form  a narrow  head, 
and  the  trunk  is  free  of  branches  for  one-half  to  two- 


The  leaves  are  from  three  to  five  inches  long, 
oval,  coarsely  toothed,  and  long  pointed. 

The  winter  buds  are  long,  slender,  and  sharp- 
pointed. 

The  fruit  consists  of  a burr  having  four  parts 
and  contains  one  and  two  triangular  edible  nuts. 

The  beech  is  common  in  our  forests,  and  sometimes 
forms  nearly  pure  stands.  It  grows  on  ridges  having 
shallow  soil  and  on  rocky  slopes  making  its  best  de- 
velopment on  rich  upland  soil. 

The  wood  is  strong,  hard  and  tough  but  not 
durable,  and  can  be  polished  easily.  It  is  used  for 
chairs,  plane-stocks,  flooring  and  fuel. 


38 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


CHESTNUT  {Castanea  dentata  Borkh.) 


In  the  forest,  the  chestnut  has  a tall,  straight  trunk 
free  of  limbs,  and  a small  head.  When  not  crowded 
the  trunk  divides  into  three  or  four  limbs  and  forms 
a low,  broad  top.  It  reaches  a height  of  sixty  to 
seventy  feet  and  a diameter  of  fifteen  to  thirty  inches, 
occasionally  exceeding  these  dimensions. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is 
divided  into  broad,  flat  ridges  by  shallow, 
irregular  fissures.  On  young  stems,  it  is 
smooth  and  dark  gray. 

The  leaves  are  coarsely 
toothed,  alternate,  five  to 
eight  inches  long  and  yel- 
low-green. 


CHESTNUT 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third 
natural  size. 


CHESTNUT 

twig 


The  fruit  is  a prickly  burr  of  four  parts, 
usually  containing  two  or  three  nuts. 

The  chestnut  occurs  in  the  southwest  part 
of  the  State,  but  is  not  abundant  there.  It 


Winter  , . , . , n i • i 

and  buds.makes  its  best  growth  on  rich,  well-drained 
One-half  nat-SOil. 


urai  size.  wood  issoft,  light,  durable  and  strong, 

and  splits  easily.  It  is  used  for  interior  finishing  and  is 
in  much  in  demand  for  telephone  poles,  railroad  ties  and 
fence  posts.  The  durability  of  the  wood  is  due  to 
the  tannic  acid  which  it  contains. 

The  nuts  contain  a sweet  meat  and  are  gathered 
in  large  quantities  for  the  market.  The  tree  is  a rapid 
grower.  It  has  been  planted  occasionally  as  far  north 
as  Bangor  and  does  very  well. 


39 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

OAKS 


The  Important  Distinction 


RED  OAK 

SCARLET  OAK 

YELLOW  OAK 

(Quercus  rul?ra  L.) 

(Quercm  coccinea 
Moench.) 

{Quercus  veluiina 
Lam.) 

Bark 

Bark 

Bark 

Slightly  ridged  but  never 
extremely  rough.  Dark 
gray  to  black;  inner  bark 
reddish. 

Ridges  small,  irregular 
dark  gray.  Inner  bark, 
pale  reddish  or  gray. 

Deeply  fissured . Ridges 
brazed,  rounded  very 
dark.  Inner  bark, 
usually  deep  orange  color 
or  bright  yellow. 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

I^bed,  each  with  sharp 
tip.  Upper  surface 
dull,  dark  green. 

Lobes  sharp  pointed. 
Upper  surface  bright 
green  and  shiny. 

Lobes  sharp  pointed. 
Upper  surface  dark 
green,  shiny. 

Fruit 

Fruit 

Fruit 

Two  years  to  mature. 
Acorn  two  to  four  times 
longer  than  cup. 

Two  years  to  mature. 
Acorn  about  twice  as  long 
as  cup. 

Two  years  to  rn  a t u r e. 
Acorn  about  twice  as  long 
as  cup. 

Winter  Bud 

Winter  Bud  ' 

Winter  Bud 

C!onical,  smooth,  chest- 
nut brown. 

Small,  smooth,  light 
brown. 

Large,  decidedly  angled, 
coated  with  matted, 
wool-like  hairs. 

Note. — In  addition  to  the  above,  we  have 
Sug.)  in  the  south  part  of  the  state. 

the  scrub  oak  {W . nana 

WHITE  OAK 

BURR  OAK 

SWAMP  WHITE  OAK 

((Quercus  alba  L.) 

{Quercus  macrocarpa 
Michx.) 

{Quercus  bicolor  Michx.) 

Bark 

Bark 

Bark 

Light  gray  to  nearly 
white.  Ridges  broad 
and  flat. 

Grayish,  deeply  furrowed, 
flaky. 

Grayish-brown,  deeply 
fissured;  broad  flat 
ridges,  flaky. 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Lobes  rounded,  no 
bristles.  Bright  green, 
shiny  or  dull  on  upper 
surface. 

Lobesrounded,  no 
bristles.  Dark  green, 
shiny  on  upper  surface. 

Slightlylobed,  or 
coarsely  toothed,  no 
bristles.  Dark  green,  dull 
on  upper  surface. 

Fruit 

Fruit 

Fruit 

One  year  to  mature. 
Two  to  four  times  as 
high  as  cup. 

One  year  to  mature, 
usually  solitary.  Acorn 
about  twice  as  long  as 
cup,  sometimes  only 
slightly  longer. 

One  year  to  mature. 

. Acorn  three  times  as  long 
; as  cup. 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Broadly  egg-shaped 
rather  blunt  pointed, 
dark  red-brown. 

Broadly  egg-shaped, 
, sharp,  or  blunt  pointed 
reddish  brown,  coated 
with  soft  hairs. 

, Roundish,  blunt  pointed, 

, brown. 

40 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


RED  OAK  (Quercus  rubra  L.) 


The  red  oak  grows  to  a height  of  fifty  to  sixty  feet 
and  a diameter  of  two  to  three  feet,  sometimes  attain- 
ing a larger  size.  It  forms  either  a narrow  or  broad 
head,  and  the  branches  are  stout,  horizontal  or  upright. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  dark  gray 
or  nearly  black,  and  is  divided  into  rounded  ridges, 
but  does  not  get  very  rough.  On  younger  ^ 
trees  and  branches  it  is  smooth  and  light  gray.  w 
The  inner  bark  is 
reddish. 

The  leaves 

vary  in  shape,  are 
five  to  eight  inches 
long,  and  alternate. 

They  are  dull,  dark' 
green  above,  yellow 
green  below. 

The  flowers 
appear  in  May, while 
the  leaves  are  only 
partly  grown. 

The  fruit 
ripens  the  second 
year.  The  acorn  is 
large,  three-fourths 
to  one  and  one-fourth  inches  long,  and  two  to  oak 
four  times  longer  than  the  cup. 

The  red  oak  is  the  most  common  and  most 
abundant  species  of  oak  in  Maine,  being  found 
in  all  parts  except  perhaps  the  extreme  North.  Found 
in  various  soils  and  situations,  but  making  its  best 
growth  on  rich  upland  soil. 

The  wood  is  hard,  strong  and  heavy.  It  is  used 
for  furniture  and  interior  finishings. 


41 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 

SCARLET  OAK  {Quercus  coccinea  Moencii.) 

The  scarlet  oak  is  a smaller  sized  tree  than  the  red 
oak,  growing  to  a height  of  thirty  to  fifty  feet  and 
one  or  two  feet  in  diameter.  The  branches  are  slender 
and  form  an  open,  narrow  head. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  separated 
into  irregular  ridges  by  shallow  fissures, 
is  dark  gray  with  a reddish  inner  bark. 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  three  to  six 
inches  long  with  a variable  outline.  The 
upper  surface  is  bright  green  and  shiny,  the 
lower  being  paler  and  less  shiny. 

The  flowers  appear  in  May,  the 
leaves  at  that  period  being  partly  developed. 

The  fruit  ripens  the  second  year.  The 
acorn  is  about  one-half  inch  long,  and  about 
twice  as  long  as  the  cup,  being  from  one- 
third  to  one-half  enclosed  by  it. 

The  scarlet  oak  occurs  only  in  one  section 
of  the  State,  being  found  in  the  valley  of  the 
Androscoggin  river.  It  grows  on  the  dry 
soil  of  ridges  or  uplands. 

The  wood  is  hard,  strong,  heavy  but 
coarse-grained.  Used  to  a limited  extent  for 
the  same  purposes  as  the  red  oak. 

In  the  fall,  the  leaves  turn  a deep  scarlet, 
and  it  is  this  feature  which  is  responsible  for 
the  common  name  of  the  tree. 


42 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


YELLOW  OAK  (Black  Oak)  (Quercus  veluiina  Lam.) 

On  the  black  oak  the  branches  are  slender,  and 
the  head  is  narrow  and  open.  Very  often  there  are 
numerous  small  dead  branches  clinging  to  the  tree,, 
differing  from  the  other  two  species  in  this  respect.  It 
grows  to  a height  of  fifty  to  sixty  feet  and  a diameter 
of  one  and  two  feet. 


The  bark  is  smooth  and  dark  gray  or  brown 
on  young  stems.  On  old  trees,  it  is  divided  by  deep 
fissures  into  broad,  rounded  ridges,  and  is  dark  to 
almost  black.  It  is  rougher  than  that  of  the  red  oak. 
The  inner  bark  is  a bright  orange  color  or  bright  yellow 
and  is  a distinguishing  feature.  It  is  used  for  tanning. 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  five  to  six  inches  long,, 
the  upper  surface  glossy,  dark  green,  and  like  the  red 
and  scarlet  oaks  varying  much  in  shape  and  general 
outline,  being  in  fact  the  most  variable  of  the  three. 

The  flowers  appear  in  May,  the  leaves  being 
at  that  time  only  partly  grown. 

The  fruit  matures  the  second  season.  The  acorn 
is  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long,  about 
twice  as  long  as  the  cup  and  nearly  one-half  enclosed 
by  it. 

The  black  or  yellow  oak  is  confined  to  the  coast 
regions  of  southern  Maine.  It  grows  on  dry  ridges 
land  gravelly  uplands. 

T^e  wood  is  hard,  heavy,  strong  and  coarse- 
grained. But  little  used  except  for  fuel. 


43 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WHITE  OAK 

Leaves  and  fruit. 
One- third  natural  size. 


WHITE  OAK  {Quercus  alba  L.) 

In  good  situations,  the  white  oak  is  a large  sized  tree, 
attaining  a height  of  sixty  to  seventy  feet  and  a diame- 
ter of  three  to  four  feet.  In  poor  soils,  it  fails  to  develop 
as  well,  being  of  much  smaller  size.  When  not  crowded 
by  other  trees,  the  bole  is  short,  the  limbs  large  and 
diverging,  and  the  head  broad  and  rounded.  In  the 
forest,  it  has  a long  bole,  little  if  any’  divided,  and  a 
narrow  head  until  old  age. 

The  bark  on  the 
trunk  is  separated  into< 
thin  irregular  flakes  and 
varies  from  a light  or  ashy 
gray  to  nearly  white.  It 
is  valuable  for  tanning. 

The  leaves  are  usu- 
ally seven  lobed, alternate, 
four  to  seven  inches  long, 
bright  green  above,  pale 
green  or  whitish  beneath. 

They  sometimes  remain 
on  the  tree  during  the  winter. 

The  flowers  come  out  in  May, 
leaves  being  half  grown  at  that  time. 

The  fruit  ripens  in  September  of  the 
first  year.  The  acorn  is  about  three-fourths 
of  an  inch  long,  from  two  to  four  times  longer 
than  the  cup,  and  about  one-fourth  enclosed 
by  it. 

The  white  oak  is  not  common  in  the  State, 
being  confined  largely  to  the  southern  part 
where  it  grows  on  sandy  land,  gravelly  ridges, 
or  rich  uplands  and  moist  bottom  lands.  It 
makes  the  best  growth  on  the  rich,  rather 
heavy  upland  soils. 

The  wood  is  close  grained,  strong,  heavy,  hard, 
tough  and  durable.  It  is  used  for  shipbuilding,  car- 
riage making,  agricultural  implements,  interior  finish- 
ing, furniture  and  flooring.  At  one  time,  it  was  used 
a'great  deal  for  railroad  ties,  but  it  is  now  too  valuable 
for  that  purpose. 

The  white  oak  gets  its  name  from  the  color  of  the 
bark. 


the 


44 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BURR  OAK  {Quercus  macrocarpa  Michx.) 

The  burr  oak  has  a broad  top  of  wide  spreading 
branches,  and  the  trunk  is  often  clear  of  limbs  for  two- 
thirds  or  more  of  its  length.  It  attains  a height  of 
sixty  to  seventy  feet,  and  a diameter  of  tw’o  to  three 
feet,  somewhat  exceeding  these  dimensions  in  the  bet- 
ter situations. 

The  bark  is  grayish,  deeply  furrowed,  and  is 
broken  into  plate-like  irregular  scales. 

The  leaves  have  rounded  lobes  but  mostly  not 
as  deeply  cut  as  the  white  oak.  The  upper  end  of  the 
leaf  is  widest  and  is  very  coarsely  toothed  rather  than 
lobed.  They  are  alternate,  dark  green  and  shiny  on 
the  upper  surface,  the  lower,  pale  green  or  silvery 
white. 

The  flowers  appear  in  May  at  the  time  when 
the  leaves  are  partly  formed. 

The  fruit  matures  the  first  year  and  is  usually 
solitary.  It  varies  much  in  size  and  shape.  The  acorn 
is  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long,  and  about  one- 
half  enclosed  by  the  cup. 

The  burr  oak  extends  southward  from  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick  to  the  valley  of  the  Penobscot 
river.  It  grows  in  low,  rich  bottom  lands,  and  is 
rarely  found  on  dry  soil. 

The  wood  is  very  durable,  hard,  heavy,  strong 
and  tough.  It  is  used  for  the  same  purpose  as  white 
oak. 


“ErS 


45 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


SWAMP  WHITE  OAK  (Quercus  bicolor  Michx.) 

The  swamp  white  oak  is  a somewhat  smaller  sized 
tree  than  the  other  two  oaks,  growing  to  a height  of 
about  fifty  feet  and  a diameter  of  two  to  three  feet. 
The  limbs  are  small,  usually  pendulous,  and  the  head 
is  narrow,  open  and  round-topped. 

The  bark  on  old  trees  is  deeply  furrowed,  divided 
into  broad  flat  ridges,  flaky,  and  of  a grayish  brown 
color.  On  young  trees  and  branches  it  is  smooth  and 
separates  into  papery  scales,  hanging  loosely. 


The  leaves  are  alternate,  four  to  six 
inches  long,  very  coarsely  toothed  or  slightly 
lobed,  upper  surface  dark  green,  shiny,  the 


lower,  pale  white  or  tawny. 


The  flowers  ap- 

pear  in  May  when  the 
leaves  are  not  more  than 
half  grown. 


The  fruit  matures 
the  first  season  and  is  usu- 
ally solitary.  The  acorn 
is  about  one  inch  long,  and 
about  three  times  as  long 
as  the  cup  and  about  one- 
third  enclosed  by  it. 


The  swamp  white  oak 


grows  in  moist,  fertile  soil,  swamp  white  oak 


Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third 
natural  size. 


on  the  borders  of  swamps, 
and  along  streams.  It  is 


SWAMP 


nowhere  abundant,  generally  being  widely 
scattered  in  small  groves,  and  occurring  only  winter 


in  the  southern  part  of  the  State. 


twig  and 


The  wood  is  strong,  tough,  heavy  and  buds.  One 
hard  and  is  used  for  the  same  purposes  as  the 
white  oak. 

(,rt  It  owes  its  name  to  the  fact  that  it  resembles  the 
white  oak  and  grows  in  swampy  places. 


46 


FORESTTREES  OF  MAINE 


WHITE  OR  AMERICAN  ELM  {Ulmus  americana 

L.) 

The  American  elm  is  a tree  of  graceful  and  often 
varied  habits.  The  trunk  often  divides  into  numerous 
limbs  which  form  a spreading  round-topped  head  with 
graceful,  drooping  branches.  It  attains  a height  of 
sixty  to  seventy  feet  and  a diameter  of  two  to  four  feet. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  is  separated  into  broad 
ridges  by  deep  fissures  and  is  of  an  ashy  gray  color. 


WHITE  ELM 

Leaves  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 

The  leaves  are 

alternate,  two  to  five 
inches  long,  coarsely 
double  toothed  margins. 
The  upper  surface  dark 
green  and  somewhat 
rough  and  having  a one 
sided  base. 

The  flowers  ap- 
pear in  April  before  the 
leaves. 

The  fruit  consists 
of  a small  winged  seed 
which  ripens  about  the  last  of  May  before  the  leaves 
have  fully  developed. 

The  American  elm  is  one  of  our  largest  and  most 
graceful  trees,  and  is  of  common  occurrence  throughout 
the  State.  It  prefers  the  rich  bottom  lands,  the  moist 
5oil  along  the  streams  and  low  hills  of  rich  soil. 

The  wood  is  rather  coarse-grained,  hard,  heavy, 

itrong,  tough  and  hard  to  split.  It  is  used  for  wheel 

iiubs,  baskets,  flooring  and  cooperage. 


AMERICAN  ELM 

Winter  twig  and  buds.  One-half 
natural  size. 


47 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


SASSAFRAS  (Sassafras  v^r^folium  (Salis)  Otto  Kuntze) 


The  sassafras  is  a tree  of  small  size  and  often  is  hardly 
more  than  a shrub.  It  grows  to  a height  of  twenty  to 
twenty-five  feet  and  a diameter  of  four  to  six  inches, 
exceeding  these  dimensions  under  favorable  conditions. 
The  branches  are  short,  stout,  somewhat  contorted. 
The  trunk  is  seldom  straight,  and  the  head  is  narrow 
and  flattened. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  divided  into 


irregular, 
broad  flat 
ridges,  and 
is  dark  red- 
dish brown. 

On  young 
trees  it  sep- 
arates into 
fine  shallow 
fissures  and 
is  greenish 
or  yellowish 
g r e e n on 
the  twigs. 

The  bark  of 
all  parts,  es- 
pecially on 

the  young  twigs  has  strong  but  pleasing  aro-g^ggy^pj^s 
matic  properties.  The  outer  coating  of  the  winter  twig 
roots  possesses  the  aromatic  properties  in  and  buds 
even  greater  degree  than  does  the  bark  of  the  ' 

stem  and  branches. 


SASSAFRAS 

Leaves  and  young  fruit.  One-third  nat- 
ural size. 


The  leaves  are  alternate,  and  four  to  six  inches 
long.  They  vary  in  outline,  some  being  entire,  others 
with  three  lobes.  The  leaves  are  dark  green,  turning 
in  autumn  to  yellow,  or  orange  tinged  with  red. 

The  flowers  are  in  open  clusters,  greenish- 
yellow  and  open  when  the  leaves  begin  to  appear. 

The  fruit  is  a small,  dark  blue  and  shiny  berry. 
It  ripens  in  the  fall. 

The  sassafras  is  found  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
State.  It  grows  on  rich  and  well  drained  sandy  soil. 

The  wood  is  coarse-grained,  brittle,  soft,  not 
strong,  very  durable  and  aromatic.  It  is  used  for 
posts,  cooperage  and  in  the  construction  of  light  boats. 

The  bark  of  the  roots  is  very  aromatic  and  oil  of 
sassafras  which  is  distilled  from  it  and  the  roots  is 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  perfume  soap  and  other 
articles.  4^ 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WILD  RED  CHERRY  (Bird  Cherry)  Prunus  penn- 
sylvanica  L.) 

The  wild  red  cherry  is  a tree  of  small  size,  seldom 
growing  to  a height  much  greater  than  twenty-five 
to  thirty  feet  and  a diameter  of  six  to  ten  inches.  It 
has  slender,  horizontal  branches  and  a narrow,  some- 
what rounded  head. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  dark  red- 
brown  and  broken  into  thin  plates.  That  on  young 
trees  is  smooth  and  reddish  brown.  The  inner  bark 
is  aromatic  and  very  bitter. 


WILD  RED  CHERRY 

Leaves,  flowers  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  narrow  to  oblong, 
rather  sharp  pointed,  finely  and  sharply  toothed  on 
the  edges,  bright  green  and  shiny  above,  three  to  four 
inches  long,  bitter  and  aromatic. 

The  flowers  are  white,  in  clusters  of  four  or 
five  and  appear  in  May  when  the  leaves  are  only  about 
half  grown. 

The  fruit  is  bright  red,  about  the  size  of  a pea, 
globular  in  shape,  and  ripens  from  July  ist  to  Sep- 
tember ist. 

The  wild  red  cherry  is  common  in  the  State  but 
of  little  value  except  as  a protection  and  cover  for 
the  soil  on  burned  areas  where  it  often  takes  posses- 
sion, being  the  means  of  preparing  the  way  for  a more 
valuable  growth.  It  is  a tree  that  prefers  moist  soil. 

The  wood  is  coarse-grained,  soft  and  light. 


49 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


WILD  BLACK  CHERRY  {Prunus  seioHna  Ehrh.) 


The  wild  black  cherry  has  small  horizontal  branches 
and  a narrow  head.  It  is  naturally  of  larger  size 
than  the  wild  red  cherry,  attaining  a height  of  forty 
to  fifty  feet  and  a diameter  of  ten  to  twenty  inches. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  is  red  brown  and  rather 
shiny  on  young  trees,  darker  and  broken  into  small 
irregular  plates  on  old  trees.  The  inner  bark  has  a 
bitter  taste. 

The  leaves  are  alternate,  varying  from  nearly 
egg-shaped  to  rather  narrow  egg-shape,  finely  toothed, 
dark  green  and  shiny  on  the  upper  surface,  thick  and 
somewhat  leathery  and  two  to  five  inches  long. 

The  flowers  are  produced  in  many- 

flowered 
racemes 
four  to  five 
inches  long, 
appear- 
ing  the  last 
of  May  or 
early  June 
when  the 
leaves  a r e 
half  grown. 

The  fruit 

is  in  droop- 
ing racemes,  black  cherry 

dark  purple  Leaves  and  fmit.  One-third  natural  size. 

or  almost  black  when  ripe,  about  the  size  of 
a pea  and  globular  in  shape.  It  ripensTrom 
August  to  October. 

The  wild  black  cherry  is  one  of  our  most  cherry 
valuable  timber  trees  when  it  grows  to  a suf-  winter 
ficient  size.  It  is  hardy  and  grows  on  a va-  buTs!  ^ne- 
riety  of  soils  under  varied  climatic  conditions,  natur- 
and  is  a rapid  grower.  The  tree  makes  the  ^ 
best  growth  on  rich,  moist  land.  It  is  widely  dis- 
tributed in  the  State  but  not  abundant. 

The  wood  is  rather  hard,  close-grained,  light, 
strong,  and  can  be  polished  easily.  It  is  used  for 
cabinet  making  and  for  interior  finishing. 


50 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


HONEY  LOCUST  (Gleditsia  tr^\canthos  L.) 

The  honey  locust  is  a tree  with  slender  spreading- 
branches,  somewhat  pendulous  that  form  an  open, 
broad,  flat-topped  head.  A characteristic  feature  is 
the  simple  or  usually  three  forked  spines  occurring 
on  the  branches  and  trunk.  It  attains  a height  of 
forty  to  fifty  feet  and  a diameter  of  eight  to  twenty 
inches. 

The  bark  is  divided  into  long,  narrow  ridges 
by  deep  fissures  and  the  surface  is  broken  into  small 
scales  that  are  persistent. 

The  leaves  are  twice  compound,  seven  to  eight 
inches  long  and  having  from  eighteen  to  twenty-eight 
leaflets,  the  upper  ones  being  from  four  to  five  inches 
long. 

The  flowers  are  borne  in  slender  clusters  or 
in  racemes  from  two  to  two  and  one-half  inches  long 
and  often  more  than  one  cluster  in  a place.  They  are 
produced  in  the  axils  of  leaves  of  previous  years 
and  appear  in  June  when  the  leaves  are  about  fully 
grown.  The  staminate  and  pistillate  are  produced 
in  different  racemes  on  the  same  tree. 

The  fruit  is  a pod  twelve  to  eighteen  inches 
long,  two  or  three  in  short  racemes  on  stalks,  one  to 
one  and  one-half  inches  long.  The  walls  are  thin  and 
tough.  On  drying  the  pod  becomes  twisted. 

The  honey  locust  is  not  a native  of  Maine,  but  like 
the  common  locust  has  been  planted  to  some  extent 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State  and  is  now  quite 
common  in  the  town  of  Paris,  occurring  wild  there. 
Naturally  it  grows  on  the  borders  of  streams  or  in 
moist,  fertile  soil  and  is  sometimes  found  on  dry  grav- 
elly hills. 

The  wood  is  coarse-grained,  hard,  strong,  and 
very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil.  It  is  used  for 
fence  posts,  wheel-hubs,  fuel  and  in  construction. 


51 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


LOCUST  {Rohinia  pseudacacia  L.) 

The  locust  is  a rapid  grower,  frequently  attaining 
a height  of  twenty  feet  in  ten  years,  but  increasing 
much  more  slowly  thereafter.  It  reaches  a height  of 
twenty-five  to  forty  feet  and  a diameter  of  eight  to 
twenty  inches.  The  branches  are  small,  brittle,  erect, 
sometimes  slightly  many-angled,  and  at  first  are  armed 
with  spines  which  disappear  as  the  tree  grows  older. 
The  top  is  narrow  and  oblong. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  dark  brown, 
deeply  furrowed  and  broken  into  small  scales. 

The  leaves  are  compound,  eight  to  fourteen 
inches  long,  and  have  from  seven  to  twenty  leaflets. 

The  flowers  are  borne  in  loose  racemes  four 
to  five  inches  long  and  appear  in  June.  They  are 
showy  and  very  fragrant. 

The  fruit  is  a smooth,  flat,  dark  brown  pod 
about  three  inches  long,  containing  from  four  to  eight 
seeds. 

The  locust  is  not  a native  of  this  State,  but  has 
been  planted  to  quite  an  extent  and  in  some  localities 
is  quite  abundant.  It  occurs  in  the  south  part,  es- 
pecially in  the  southwest,  being  found  on  different 
soils,  preferring,  however,  the  rich  land. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  close-grained,  very  hard  and 
strong  and  very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil.  It 
is  used  extensively  for  fence  posts  and  also  for  con- 
struction, turnery,  shipbuilding  and  for  fuel. 


“50 


52 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


MAPLES 


The  Important  Distinctions. 


STRIPED  MAPLE 

1 

SUGAR  MAPLE 

) 

SILVER  MAPLE 

RED  MAPLE 

{Acer  penni^ylvani- 
cum  L.) 

{Acer  saccharum 
Marsh) 

{Acer  sacchari 
num  L.) 

{Acer  rubrum  L.) 

Bark 

! 

i Bark 

Beirk 

Bark 

Marked  with 
whitish  stripes 
running  length- 
wise  of  trunk.  Red- 
dish-brown or  dark 
green. 

Gray  on  old 
trunks.  Rough 
and  deeply  f u r- 
rowed . Smooth 
and  slightly  fi  s- 
sured  on  young 
trees. 

Dark  gray  with 
reddish  tinge  o n 
old  trees;  s o m e- 
what  f u r r o w ed 
Separates  into 
thin  scales.  O n 
young  trees, 
smooth,  gray  with 
faint  tinge  of  red. 

Dark  gray  on  old 
trees.  Ridged 
and  broken  into 
plate-like  scales. 
Light  gray  and 
smooth  o n young 
trees. 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Leaves 

Roundish,  edges 
finely  and  sharply 
toothed,  three- 
lobed  at  apex. 

Three  to  five  lobes 
margins  sparingly 
toothed,  sinuous. 

Five  lobes,  rarely 
three.  Lobes  long 
and  narrow,  irreg- 
ularly and  sharply 
toothed.  Under 

surface  silvery 
white. 

Three  to  five  lobes 
Lobes  irregularly 
doubly  toothed . 
White  on  u n d e r 
surface. 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Terminal  nearly 
one-half  inch  long. 
Bright  red. 

One-fourth  inch 
long,  sharp- 
pointed,  purple. 

One-eighth  inch 
long,  blunt- 
pointecl, bright  red 

One-eighth  inch 
long,  blunt- 
pointed,  dark  red. 

Flowers 

Flowers 

Flowers 

Flowers 

In  slender  racemes, 
bright  yellow,  ap- 
pearingafter 
leaves  are  full 
grown. 

In  clusters,  on 
long,  slender, 
hairy  stalks. 
Greenish  - yellow. 
Appearing  with 
the  lea  es. 

In  clusters  on 
very  short  stalks; 
greenish  yellow-or 
pinkish  Come 
long  before  leaves. 

In  clusters  on 
moderately  long 
slender  stalks. 
Scarlet  or  yellow- 
ish red . Appear 
before  leaves. 

53 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE! 


STRIPED  MAPLE  (Moose  Wood)  (Acer  perm- 

sylcanicum  ly.) 


The  striped  maple  or  moose  wood  never  gets  to  be 
of  large  size,  growing  to  a height  of  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  feet  and  a diameter  of  four  to  eight  inches.  The 
branches  are  slender  and  upright,  and  the  top  narrow 
and  often  short. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  is  marked  by  whitish 
lines  running  lengthwise,  which  turn  brown  after  a 


toward  the  apex,  opposite,  pale  green,  from  five  to 
six  inches  long  and  about  as  broad.  In  the  fall  they 
become  light  yellow. 

The  flowers  are  bright  yellow  in  slender  droop- 
ing racemes  opening  the  last  of  May  or  in  June  when 
the  leaves  are  fully  grown. 

The  fruit  is  winged,  fully  grown  in  July,  bright 
red  at  first,  but  changing  to  brown  late  in  autumn. 

The  striped  maple  is  of  common  occurrence  in  the 
State.  It  is  a shade-loving  tree,  and  is  usually  found 
growing  with  other  hard  woods  and  sometimes  witfc 
conifers  on  rich,  moist  soils  or  rocky  slopes.  It^is 
of  little  value  except  for  its  beauty. 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  light  and  soft. 


54 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


SUGAR  MAPLE  (Rock  Maple)  (Acer  saccharum 
Marsh.) 

In  the  forest  the  sugar  maple  grows  to  a height 
of  sixty  to  seventy  feet,  and  a diameter  of  twenty 
to  thirty  inches,  the  trunk  often  without  branches 
for  quite  a distance  and  forming  a short,  somewhat 
spreading  top.  In  the  open,  the  branches  begin  eight 
to  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  forming  an  egg-shaped 
head  when  the  tree  is  young,  and  a broad  rounded 
top  when  older. 

The  bark  on  young  trees  and  large  branches  is 
smooth  or  slightly  fissured  and  pale.  On  the 
trunks  of  old  trees  it  is  deeply  furrowed  and 
is  of  a light  gray  color,  sometimes  rather  dark. 

The  leaves  are  opposite,  three  to  five 
lobed,  sparing- 
ly toothed, 
three  to  fi  v e 
inches  long, 
dark  green 
above  and  pale 
green  below. 

In  the  fall  they 
are  of  various 
shades  of  deep 
red,  scarlet, 
orange  or  yel- 
low. 

The  flowers 

are  pendulous, 
borne  on  long, 

slender,  hairy  stalks  and  are  produced  in  clus- 
ters. They  are  greenish  yellow  and  appear 
with  the  leaves. 

The  fruit  is  a winged  seed  and  ripens  in  the  fall. 

The  sugar  maple  is  found  throughout  the  State  and 
in  some  sections  is  very  abundant.  It  grows  on  moist, 
rocky  slopes,  preferring,  however,  the  rich  moist  soils 
of  uplands  where  it  makes  its  best  development. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  close-grained,  strong,  hard, 
tough  and  can  be  polished.  It  is  used  for  furniture, 
flooring,  tool  handles,  and  to  some  extent  for  canoe 
paddles. 

Maple  sugar  and  syrup  are  made  largely  from  the 
5ap  of  this  tree. 


SUGAR  MAPLE 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 


SUGAR 

MAPLE 

Winter 
twig  and 
buds.  One- 
half  nat- 
ural size 


55 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


in  r 

SILVER  MAPLE  (Soft  Maple)  [Acer  sacchar^m  Ls  , 
Marsh-) 

Usually  the  silver  maple  grows  to  a height  of  sixty 
to  eighty  feet  and  a diameter  of  two  to  three  feet,  and 
having  a trunk  separating  into  three  or  four  upright, 
secondary  stems,  destitute  of  branches  for  some  dis- 
tance. The  branches  are  long  and  slender,  often 
pendulous. 

The  bark  on  young  trees  is  smooth,  gray,  slightly 
tinged  with  red.  On  old  trees  it  is  furrowed  more  or 
less,  separates  irito  large  thin  scales  and  is  reddish 
brown  in  color.  On  the  twigs  it  is  chestnut  brown 
and  shiny. 

The  leaves 

are  opposite, 
deeply  five-lobed 
and  the  edges  are 
irregular  and 
sharply  toothed. 
The  upper  surface 
is  pale  green,  the 
lower,  silvery 
white.  They  turn 
a pale  yellow  in 
the  fall. 

The  flowers 

are  on  very  short 
stalks  and  in  clus- 
SILVER  MAPLE  t e r s.  They  are 

Leaves  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size,  . 

greenish  yellow  or 

sometimes  pinkish,  opening  early  long  before  the  leaves 
appear. 

The  fruit  is  winged  and  ripens  about  May  before 
the  leaves  appear,  falling  a little  later  and  germinating 
at  once. 

The  silver  maple  is  a common  tree  in  the  State,  except 
along  the  coast,  and  is  abundant  in  some  localities.  It 
grows  largely  on  sandy  banks  along  streams. 

The  wood  is  softer  than  that  of  the  hard  maple, 
close-grained,  not  durable,  and  easily  worked.  It  is 
used  for  tool  handles,  and  to  some  extent  for  flooring, 
furniture  and  fuel.  The  sap  is  sometimes  used  for  the 
production  of  maple  sugar  and  syrup. 


56 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


RKD  MAPLE  (^Acer  rubrum  L.) 

The  red  'maple  is  a medium  sized,  slender  tree  that 
i becomes  fifty  to  sixty  feet  high,  and  one  to  two  feet  in 
diameter.  The  branches  are  upright,  forming  a some- 
what narrow  head.  Usually  the  trunk  is  not  divided. 

The  bark  on  young  trees  is  smooth  and  light  gray. 
On  old  trunks,  it  is  dark  gray,  ridged  and  broken  into 
plate-like  scales.  On  the  twigs  it  is  red  and  shiny  on 
trees  of  all  ages. 

The  leaves  are  opposite,  three  to  five 
lobed,  margins  irregularly  doubly  toothed, 
three  to  five  inches  long,  upper  surface  light 
green,  lower, 
white.  In  the 
fall,  they  turn 
scarlet  or  scar- 
let and  orange. 

The  flowers 
are  produced  in 
clusters  o n 
mod  e r a t e 1 y 
long  stalks. 

They  are  a 
bright  scarlet 
or  yellowish 
red,  opening 
before  the  ap- 
pearance of  the 
leaves. 

The  fruit  is  winged  and  ripens  in  the 
spring  or  early  summer  and  germinates  as 
5oon  as  it  falls. 

The  red  maple  is  a rapid  grower  and  is  the 
Host  common  and  abundant  of  the  maples  in  this  State. 

Lt  is  a swamp  tree  usually  found  in  wet  places  along 
;treams  or  on  the  border  of  swamps. 

The  wood  is  close-grained,  heavy,  not  very 
strong,  and  easily  worked,  not  durable  and  will  take  a 
^ood  polish.  Used  for  furniture,  woodenware,  turnery, 
.mnstocks  and  fuel. 


RED  MAPLE 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 


RED 

MAPLE 

Winter  twig 
and  buds. 
One-half 
natural  size. 


57 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BASSWOOD  (Linden)  {Tilia  americana  L.) 

The  basswood  usually  is  a good  sized  tree,  growing 
to  a height  of  fifty  to  seventy  feet  and  a diameter^of 
two  to  three  feet.  The  branches  are  slender,  some- 
what pendulous  ,comparatively  small  and  numerous, 
forming  a broad  and  rounded  head. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  deeply  and 
irregularly  furrowed.  On  young  trees,  it  is  smooth  or 
slightly  fissured  and  has  a grayish  appearance. 

^ The  leaves  are  alternate,  broadly  egg- 
T shaped,  toothed,  upper  surface  dark  green, 
lower,  yellow  green  and  shiny,  and  five  to  six 
inches  long. 

The  flowers  are  greenish  yellow, 
borne  on  a slender 
stalk  which  is  at- 
tached to  a rather 
long,  yellowish, 
leaf-like  body. 
They  are  fragrant, 
contain  a b u n - 
dance  of  honey 
and  open  in  July. 

The  fruit  is 
spherical,  gray, 
woody,  and  about 
as  large  as  a pea, 
BASSWOOD  and  remains  at- 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natur-  tached  tO  the  leaf- 

like  body  when  it 

BASS-  falls. 

WOOD  Xhe  basswood  is  a common  tree  in  our 
^In^Ldr^  forcsts.  It  is  found  on  the  poor  soils,  but 

One-half  (;toes  uot  make  a good  growth  in  such  situa- 
eaturai  size.  preferring,  instead,  the  rich  land. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  tough  and  easily  worked. 
It  is  used  for  lumber,  pulp,  cheap  furniture  and  wooden- 
ware. 

Bees  make  an  excellent  grade  of  honey  from  the. 
flowers. 


58 


'forest  TREES  OF  MAINE 


ASHES 


• The  Important  Distinctions. 


BLACK  ASH 

WHITE  ASH 

RED  ASH 

{Fraxinus  nigra  Marsh.) 

{Fraxinus  americana  L.) 

{Fraxinus  pennsylvanica 
Marsh) 

Leaves 

1 Leaves 

1. eaves 

Have  seven  to  e 1 e v e n 
leaflets  which  are  with- 
out stalks  except  the  one 
at  the  end. 

Have  seven  to  nine 
leaflets,  usually  seven, 
which  are  borne  on  stalks 

Having  seven  to  nine 
leaflets  borne  on  stalks. 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

Winter  Buds 

j Black  or  very  dark  ter- 
1 minal  bud.  Less  than 

1 one-fourth  i n c h 1 o n g, 

1 sharply  pointed. 

Brown,  terminal,  o n e- 
eighth  inch  long,  blunt 
pointed. 

Brown,  terminal,  o n e- 
eighth  inch  long,  and  as 
if  cut  off,  and  coated  with 
rusty  or  dull  red  hairs. 

1 Winter  Twigs 

Winter  Twigs 

Winter  Twigs 

Olive  green,  smooth. 

Olive  green,  smooth  and 
shiny. 

Greenish  gray,  somewhat 
covered  with  downy 
hairs. 

Note. — The  flowers  and  fruit  of  these  three  ashes  are  so  much  alike 
that  they  have  no  striking  characteristics  by  which  to  distinguish  them 
from  one  another.  The  fruit  of  all  is  winged,  that  of  the  white  ash  ofteiv 
remaining  on  the  tree  until  sometime  in  winter. 


59 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


BLACK  ASH  (Fraxinus  nigra  Marsh.) 

The  black  ash  is  a rather  tall,  slender  tree,  with 
slender  branches  and  a short,  narrow  head  except  in  the 
open  when  the  top  may  be  broad  and  rounded  and 
much  longer.  It  grows  to  a height  of  fifty-  to  sixty 
feet  and  a diameter  of  ten  to  twenty  inches.  The 
trunk  is  often  without  branches  well  towards  the  top. 

The  bark  is  gray  to  dark  gray  with  more  or  less 
parallel  ridges.  On  the  shoots  of  the  season  it  is 
smooth  and  olive  green. 


BLACK  ASH 

Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size. 


The  leaves  are  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long, 
opposite  and  have  seven  to  eleven  leaflets  which  are 
four  to  five  inches  long,  without  stalks  except  the  end. 
one  and  have  remotely  toothed  margains.  The  upper 
surface  is  dark  green. 

The  black  ash  is  quite  a prominent  tree  in  Maine.  It 
grows  almost  entirely  on  rich,  moist  ground  or  in  cold, 
wet  swamps  and  along  the  banks  of  streams. 

The  wood  is  coarse-grained,  heavy,  somewhat 
soft,  not  strong,  tough  and  durable.  It  is  used  for 
interior  finishing,  cabinet  work,  barrel  hoops,  and 
baskets. 


6o 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


^VHITE  ASH  {Fraxinus  americana  L.) 


The  white  ash  ordinarily  is  a somewhat  larger  tree 
than  the  black  ash,  growing  to  a height  of  sixty  to 
seventy  feet  and  a diameter  of  fifteen  to  thirty  inches 
and  sometimes  even  exceeding  these  dimensions.  The 
branches  are  stout,  and  upright  or  spreading,  forming 
a narrow  top  in  the  forest,  and  a broad,  round  head  in 
the  open. 

The  bark  is  broken  into  broad,  flat,  parallel 
ridges  by  deep  furrows,  and  is  a dark  brown  or  deep  gray 
in  color.  On  the  season’s  shoots,  the  bark  is  olive 


green,  smooth  and  shiny. 

The  leaves  are  opposite,  and  con- 
sist of  seven  to  nine,  usually  seven  leaf- 
lets, and  are  eight  to  twelve  inches  long- 
The  leaflets  are  three  to  five  inches  long, 
borne  on  short  stalks,  edges  remotely 


WHITE  ASH 

Winter  twig  and 


WHITE  ASH 


buds.  One-half 


Leaf  and  fruit.  One-third  natural  size.  natural  size. 


toothed  and  dark  green  and  often  shiny  on  the  upper 
surface. 

The  white  ash  is  one  of  our  valuable  timber  trees 
and  is  found  quite  commonly  in  the  State.  For  its 
best  growth,  it  demands  the  rich,  rather  moist  soil  of 
low  hills,  but  is  often  found  along  streams. 

The  wood  is  hard,  strong,  heavy  and  tough.  It 
is  used  for  agricultural  implements,  tool  handles, 
oars,  furniture  and  interior  finishing. 

6i 


FOREST  TREES  OF  MAINE 


RKD  ASH  (Fraxinus  pennsylvanica  Marsh.) 

The  red  ash  has  stout,  upright  branches  and  these 
form  an  irregular,  compact  head,  or  broad  and  rounded 
in  the  open.  It  seldom  exceeds  a height  of  fifty  or 
sixty  feet  and  a diameter  of  sixteen  to  twenty  inches. 

The  bark  on  the  trunk  of  old  trees  is  furrowed 
like  that  of  the  white  ash.  It  is  more  regularly  ridged, 
however,  and  the  furrows  are  not  as  deep.  In  color, 
it  is  dark  gray,  or  brown.  The  branches  of  the  season 
are  greenish  gray  and  covered  with  numerous  hairs 
which  often  remain  until  the  next  season. 


The  leaves  are  ten  to  twelve  inches  long,  opposite 
and  having  seven  to  nine  leaflets.  These  are  four  to 
six  inches  long,  remotely  toothed,  and  yellow  green  on 
the  upper  surface. 

The  red  ash  is  common  in  Maine  but  is  not  found  as 
abundantly  as  the  white  and  black  ash.  It  is  sometimes 
mistaken  for  the  former.  It  grows  near  the  banks  of  I 
streams  and  lakes  on  rich,  moist  soil.  I 

The  wood  is  hard,  heavy,  fairly  strong,  coarse- 1 
grained,  and  brittle.  It  is  used  in  the  same  way  asi 
w^hite  ash  but  is  not  as  good  a wood.  J 


62 


